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	<title>Why Lead Now</title>
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		<title>Putting the “D’oh” in “Don’t think that you have control.”</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/05/25/putting-the-doh-in-dont-think-that-you-have-control/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/05/25/putting-the-doh-in-dont-think-that-you-have-control/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Youngblood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Influence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Managing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Campaign]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Election]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Floyd Mayweather Jr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manny Pacquiao]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[President]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[President of the United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Presidential Nominee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School Play]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1236</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here were are; roughly 5 months away from the US Presidential elections.  It’s almost like having a season of the year, except that instead of seeing tree leaves changing colors or feeling the temperature changes, we’re instead exposed to political ads, campaign commercials, and auto-dialers calling at 8:00 AM in the morning asking for campaign <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1236&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here were are; roughly 5 months away from the US Presidential elections.  It’s almost like having a season of the year, except that instead of seeing tree leaves changing colors or feeling the temperature changes, we’re instead exposed to political ads, campaign commercials, and auto-dialers calling at 8:00 AM in the morning asking for campaign contributions.  Some of my friends look forward to the election like it’s the fight of the decade (will we ever get to see Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather, Jr.?), but I personally tend to get annoyed.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/vote.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1237" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="vote" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/vote.jpg?w=300&h=287" alt="" width="300" height="287" /></a>Why?  It’s because politics remind me of bad leadership practices.  Every day we’re exposed to the presidential nominees making promises about their plans following the elections in November.  It’s not the necessarily the plans that are bad (depending on your perspective), but rather the language that these nominees use.  It’s as if they are providing a 100% guarantee that they can deliver on their promises. </p>
<p>Even the President of the United States reports to someone in order to get anything accomplished.  Lots of new laws or presidential decrees require funding which is under the control of Congress. If the President upsets the wrong people in Congress, it becomes much harder for him to follow through on his promised agenda.  If he cannot pass his agenda, his campaign promises are null and void.</p>
<p>That’s the problem with leadership, and I’m not just referring to politics.  I’m specifically referring to the old thinking that being in a leadership role means that you’re in control no matter if your background is in politics, business, etc&#8230;  Whether you’re in a position of power or not, the only person you can truly control is yourself.  You cannot say with certainty that just because you want or demand something to happen, it does not mean you can <span style="text-decoration:underline;">make</span> it happen.</p>
<p>Let me give you another example: Let’s say I manage an individual working on a large project.  I just found out from my own manager that the deadline on that project needs to be moved to tomorrow.  I need this individual to stay late to finish up the project to meet the new deadline.  That individual tells me that they cannot stay late because they’re attending their daughter’s school play and they cannot miss it.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/control.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1238" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="Control center" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/control.jpg?w=300&h=199" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>What are my options at that point?  That individual has made it clear that their daughter’s school play is their priority.  If I’m somewhat unreasonable, I could reprimand them or possibly even fire them, but what then?  The deadline still gets missed, and I’m now the one in hot water with my own manager.  The other option could be for me to compromise.  Let the individual see their daughter’s play, but ask for them to come in early the next day.  If they refuse, we may still have a problem, but at least I’ve done something that a lot of leaders don’t do, which is compromise.</p>
<p>I’ve worked under leaders in the past that ruled with iron fists.  If you didn’t do things exactly the way the wanted, even if there were better ways of doing things, you would be reprimanded.  I’m sure almost all of us have worked for at least one individual like that in the past.  All it winds up doing is causing the rest of us to start looking for new jobs.</p>
<p>Leadership is really about <em>influencing</em> those underneath and around you.  It’s about making compromises with the people you lead in order to get the job done.  You can “push” people in one direction or the other through influence, but you cannot move them from point A to point B on your own.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.com/2012/05/24/putting-the-doh-in-dont-think-you-have-control/#respond">Leave your comments!</a></p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/influence/'>Influence</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/leadership/'>Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/managing/'>Managing</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/retention/'>Retention</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1236/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1236&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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			<media:title type="html">vote</media:title>
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		<item>
		<title>A Much-Needed Time of Rest</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/05/04/a-much-needed-time-of-rest/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/05/04/a-much-needed-time-of-rest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Youngblood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Passion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Confused.com]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exhausted]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Expedia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federal Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paid Time Off]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staycation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vacation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1225</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been a while since I’ve taken time off for a vacation (or “staycation” in my case, since I’m really a homebody).  However, I’ll be taking some time off starting next week.  I am quite giddy as I’m watching the clock counting down to the end of business today.  I can’t wait to leave <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1225&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It has been a while since I’ve taken time off for a vacation (or “staycation” in my case, since I’m really a homebody).  However, I’ll be taking some time off starting next week.  I am quite giddy as I’m watching the clock counting down to the end of business today.  I can’t wait to leave my responsibilities behind!</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hammock.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1226" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="Woman Lying in Hammock" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/hammock.jpg?w=199&h=300" alt="" width="199" height="300" /></a>After reading that, you might be thinking that I hate my job or my work environment or my coworkers (or all of the above).  It’s actually quite the opposite.  I have a great job where I’m challenged on a regular basis.  My company has the greatest culture out of any company where I’ve previously worked.  My coworkers are all more like family than simple associates, and I know that if I’m in trouble or need support, I can always rely on them.</p>
<p>However, even though I appreciate all of these aspects, I’m burnt out.  I feel mentally exhausted.    I’ve lost some of that passion I’ve carried with me in the past.</p>
<p>Being challenged at work is a great thing.  It leads to both personal and professional growth.  However, it’s also a cause of stress.  When you’re challenged over and over again without any breaks, it’s like someone has access to your personal stress button and they’re trying to break it by stomping on it repeatedly.  </p>
<p>For others out there, maybe challenges aren’t the problem.  Maybe it’s a lack of challenges, or perhaps doing the same routine day-in and day-out.  Whatever the source, all of us eventually get exhausted and need to get away from work in order to recharge our batteries. </p>
<p>Various studies have shown that vacations allow workers to come back to the office feeling refreshed and more productive.  <a href="http://www.confused.com/news-views/infographics/why-you-need-a-holiday">Confused.com</a> compiled statistics from some of these studies and listed additional benefits of vacation, such as having a better feeling about life, or longer life expectancy in certain individuals.  </p>
<p>Unfortunately, not everyone has vacation time through their employers since it is not mandated by the federal government here in the United States.  Some businesses simply deny their employees this benefit. </p>
<p>I have not personally seen a business do this, but I did have a friend who was denied paid time off for the first two years of their employment.  To think about working for 2 years without a break seems crazy.  They even admitted to me that they were not feeling engaged by the end of that 2-year span until they were able to take some time away from they office.</p>
<p>What amazes me the most is that for those of us who are fortunate enough to receive paid time off in the US, the average American worker does not use all of their vacation time each year.  According to a study by <a href="http://media.expedia.com/media/content/expus/graphics/other/pdf/vacation-deprivation-fact-sheetnov2011.pdf">Expedia</a>, the average number of vacation days provided each year is 14, yet only 12 of those days are typically taken.   It&#8217;s a shame because those vacation days are meant to be used and not stockpiled.</p>
<p>It doesn&#8217;t matter if you&#8217;re someone who is head-over-heels in love with their job, or someone just in it for the paycheck.  If you’re one of those individuals who does not use all of their vacation time, use it up!  You need that time away for your own mental health.  You&#8217;ll feel better about yourself and about your work.</p>
<p><a title="Comments" href="http://whyleadnow.com/2012/05/03/a-much-needed-time-of-rest/#respond">Leave your comments!</a></p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/passion/'>Passion</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/productivity/'>Productivity</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1225/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1225&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Look To The Past To Improve The Present And Future</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/27/look-to-the-past-to-improve-the-present-and-future/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/27/look-to-the-past-to-improve-the-present-and-future/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Adam Morris</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Passion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Problem Solving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Morris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stevie Wonder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Why Don't You Come Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1216</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My younger brother, Chris Morris, is an insanely talented musician/singer/songwriter. (Sure, I might be a tad biased but if you don&#8217;t believe me just see for yourself). This week Chris released a new music video for a song called, &#8220;Why Don&#8217;t You Come Home?&#8221; The song is a resurrection and recreation of an incredibly rare <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1216&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My younger brother, Chris Morris, is an insanely talented musician/singer/songwriter. (Sure, I might be a tad biased but if you don&#8217;t believe me just <a title="CHRIS MORRIS &lt;&lt; the art of CHRIS MORRIS &lt;&lt; The Official Website" href="http://www.theartofchrismorris.com/" target="_blank">see for yourself</a>). This week Chris released a new music video for a song called, &#8220;<a title="CHRIS MORRIS &lt;&lt; Why Don't You Come Home?" href="http://www.theartofchrismorris.com/chris_morris/_why_dont_you_come_home__new_music_video__free_mp3_" target="_blank">Why Don&#8217;t You Come Home?</a>&#8221; The song is a resurrection and recreation of an incredibly rare and unreleased Stevie Wonder song from the 1960&#8242;s that inexplicably never made it on to any of Stevie&#8217;s albums. (Listen to Stevie&#8217;s <a title="Stevie Wonder 1968 - Why Don't You Come Home - YouTube" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3gMHmyOzQw" target="_blank">original version here</a>). When Chris stumbled across it he <em>&#8220;decided to get in the studio and pay tribute to this unknown masterpiece.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>What amazed me is that more than 40 years after the song was originally written and recorded, it still sounds current and relevant. It wouldn&#8217;t be a stretch to say the song was &#8216;ahead of its time.&#8217; And now, decades later, it has been given new life.</p>
<p>In thinking about Chris&#8217; process, I&#8217;m reminded that often the best ideas, practices, methods, systems, and behaviors, are those that have been there all along, sitting around collecting dust. So why not look for new growth and development opportunities by reflecting on old ones that either used to work or were never put into practice in the first place?</p>
<p>Considering the following questions:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What worked well for you in the past that you&#8217;ve gotten away from?</strong> <em>Did you have a system or process that worked well for an old task or job that could be applied to your current job or a current task? Do you no longer flex your leadership style as well as you used to?</em></li>
<li><strong>What have you learned in the past that you never put into practice?</strong> <em>Have you ever read a book or article and thought, &#8220;I need to do that,&#8221; but never did? Have you ever taken a class, loved the subject, but forgot about it the minute you put the textbook up on the shelf?</em></li>
<li><strong>What were you once very passionate about that you&#8217;ve since abandoned?</strong> <em>What activities or hobbies significantly contributed to your overall happiness and well-being that you no longer participate in?</em></li>
</ul>
<p>I challenge you to sit down and do some brainstorming around this subject. What ideas, practices, methods, systems, and behaviors from the past can you breathe new life into? Once you&#8217;ve identified them, bring them home where they belong.</p>
<span style="text-align:center; display: block;"><a href="http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/27/look-to-the-past-to-improve-the-present-and-future/"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/e7-7i1D35eg/2.jpg" alt="" /></a></span>
<p><em>Follow me on Twitter: <a title="Adam Morris on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/adammorris21" target="_blank">@adammorris21</a> | Add me on Google+: <a title="Adam Morris on Google+" href="http://gplus.to/AdamMorris21" target="_blank">gplus.to/AdamMorris21</a></em></p>
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		<title>Make YOUR Living</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/20/make-your-living/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/20/make-your-living/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:52:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Diamond Arnold</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accountability]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Make a living; Making a Living; Ken Blanchard; Jason Diamond Arnold; J. Diamond Arnold; Jason Arnold; Blanchard; Henry David]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Henry David Thoreau; Robert Frost; Nathaniel Hawthorne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mary Louise Alcott]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ts Eliot; Two Tramps in Mud Time; Frost; New York Yankees; Wicked Tuna; Boston; Boston]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA; Prime Earning Years; Career Change; New Career; North of Boston; New Hampshire; Gloucester; Gloucester Harbor; Gloucester]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Our work needs to be so much more than just a way to make money; it must be about the purpose or cause we serve through our efforts at work—making other people’s lives more productive and enriching because of what we do—while that service becomes a means to providing quality choices for the things that we cherish the most<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1199&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” –Henry David Thoreau</p>
<p>As the plane sat at the gate, making final preparations for take off, I gazed out the window, watching two ground crew members, tramping around in the muddy slush, loading up the last pieces of luggage. They looked busy. They looked focused. They looked determined.</p>
<div id="attachment_1203" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 349px"><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ax_in_stump-e13008931665081.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-1203  " title="ax_in_stump-e1300893166508" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ax_in_stump-e13008931665081.jpg?w=339&h=288" alt="" width="339" height="288" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Mud Time</p></div>
<p>As my thoughts turned toward home, the fascination with the two workers below was interrupted with a sudden, “You from Boston?”</p>
<p>I turned to the man next to me and chuckled, reveling to him my New York Yankees jacket, “No, just visiting.”</p>
<p>As fate would have it, he wasn’t content to leave it at that. “Ahhh! Business or pleasure?”</p>
<p>Perhaps he was a little concerned as to the cause of my red eyes and rather weary appearance—little knowing that I had just spent the past several days in a New Hampshire cabin with no running water. Or maybe it was just one of those rare occasions when I looked a little more vulnerable than my usual, <em>leave me alone, I’ve been on a long journey, </em>traveler look—still a glow from all of my recent discoveries within the ancient American region of New England.</p>
<p>I carefully guarded my growing suspicion over his line of questions with as few words as possible, “A little bit of both.”</p>
<p>He seemed to ponder the response, then fell silent for a moment. I could sense he was on the edge of leaving me alone—finally! Thankfully&#8230; he gave it one last shot.</p>
<p>“How do you make your living?” The hook slipped into my conscious with the precession of a <a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/wicked-tuna/" target="_blank">Wicked Tuna</a> fisherman out of Gloucester Harbor that had finally snagged the big one.</p>
<p>We’ve heard the question a thousand times, on a thousand trips around the world, when getting to know a stranger, in some strange place. But this time, it wasn’t a strange question. This time the question penetrated my very being and challenged me to give the curious lad a meaningful and well thought out answer.</p>
<p>Perhaps it was symptomatic of my natural buzz from the lack of sleep? Nay, I knew it was more than that; it was something lurking in the salty philosophic Atlantic air that whispers through the timeless picturesque scenery North of Boston—the same whispers that spoke to some of America’s most profound writers, like Frost, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Alcott, and Eliot, while they tried to answer questions about life and death and time, and all things concerning the affairs of our daily busyness&#8230;and business.</p>
<p><em>How do you make your living?</em></p>
<p>It was the very question that had been haunting me the entire trip, with each log I split, in every step taken on a hike to some small peek overlooking the New England landscape, every snowflake that sung to me on it’s decent to the frozen forest floor. In fact, it has been haunting me the past couple of years of my career—the so-called Prime Earning Years between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age. That age when family responsibilities and economic recessions catch up with the hopes and dreams of what you thought you could become through your career. That age when we struggle to make our living, rather than allow our living to make us, through a rhythm and routine that wears us down like the mountain steam does to the rock when no one is looking.</p>
<p>What is a living, anyway? And how does one go about “making it?”</p>
<p>Making a living isn’t about a paycheck—it is not your job! If we try to answer that question by simply explaining what we do to make money, than somehow we’ve reduced the meaning of how we spend the majority of our days. Our work needs to be much more than just a how we make money; it must be about the purpose or cause we serve through our efforts at work—making other people’s lives more productive and enriching because of what we do—while also serving as a means to providing quality choices for the things that we cherish the most.</p>
<p>Where are you in relation to where you want to be in your career—in your life?</p>
<div id="attachment_1202" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/screen-shot-2012-04-19-at-4-31-21-pm.png"><img class=" wp-image-1202 " title="Screen Shot 2012-04-19 at 4.31.21 PM" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/screen-shot-2012-04-19-at-4-31-21-pm.png?w=240&h=205" alt="" width="240" height="205" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Circles of Work and Play</p></div>
<p>Maybe you don’t currently do what you love to do. Maybe your current job or project is not what you dreamed of doing when you were off earning degrees at the University or working for that revolutionary start up company when you first entered the workplace. But if you don’t believe that there is a higher purpose or meaning in the work you do, then you’re in danger of slipping into what Thoreau warned as, “quiet desperation.” If the gap between work and play is so wide that you can’t wait to get to the weekend so you can do what you really love to do, then it’s time to look in the mirror and ask the question, “How do YOU make YOUR living?”</p>
<p>To make a living requires a continual renewal of spirit and perspective that pulls all of our hopes and dreams, experiences, responsibilities—our living, into a larger, more integrated and meaningful context. It takes effort to align the things we love, and are passionate about, with what we call work. And yet, it is as simple as splitting wood this side of winter, on a spring day, in late April or early May—just for the pleasure of it.</p>
<p>As the plane began it’s decent, nearly four hours later, into San Diego, California, my new best friend and I had thoroughly investigated how we make our living. Just after the plane touched down in a land far from those ancient poets gravesites, I shared with him a few words I had just found, inside the wood I was splitting, just North of Boston. Words&#8230;that are there with you too, right now, on your computer’s keyboard, in the pen on your desk, in the code you punch in to enter your office, or the clock you punch your card into, or on the palm of the handshake you’ll receive at next Tuesday’s Business meeting. And those words are whispering to you:</p>
<p><em>My object in living is to unite</em><br />
<em>My avocation and my vocation</em><br />
<em>As my two eyes make one in sight.</em><br />
<em>Only where love and need are one,</em><br />
<em>And work is play for mortal stakes,</em><br />
<em>Is the deed ever really done</em><br />
<em>For Heaven and the future’s sakes.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><em> –</em>Robert Frost<em>, <a href="http://poetry.about.com/od/poems/l/blfrostmudtime.htm" target="_blank"><em>Two Tramps in Mud Time</em></a></em></p>
<p><strong>About the Author</strong>: <a href="http://www.kenblanchard.com/About_Ken_Blanchard_Companies/Keynote_Speakers/Jason_Arnold/" target="_blank">Jason Diamond Arnold</a> is a Consulting Associate with <a href="http://www.kenblanchard.com/" target="_blank">The Ken Blanchard Companies</a>, and Co-Author of <a href="http://www.kenblanchard.com/ssliaov/" target="_blank">Situational Self Leaderhip in Action</a></p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/accountability/'>Accountability</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/behavior/'>Behavior</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/business/'>Business</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/challenges/'>Challenges</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/decision-making/'>Decision Making</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/direction/'>Direction</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/expectations/'>Expectations</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/fear/'>Fear</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/focus/'>Focus</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/goals/'>Goals</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/influence/'>Influence</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/innovation/'>Innovation</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/inspirational/'>Inspirational</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/leadership/'>Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/learning/'>Learning</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/listening/'>Listening</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/passion/'>Passion</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/performance/'>Performance</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/perseverance/'>Perseverance</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/privacy/'>Privacy</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/problem-solving/'>Problem Solving</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/productivity/'>Productivity</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/regression/'>Regression</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/relationships/'>Relationships</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/responsibility/'>Responsibility</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/self-leadership-2/'>self leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/servant-leadership/'>Servant Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/standards/'>Standards</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trends/'>Trends</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trust/'>Trust</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/uncategorized/'>Uncategorized</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/vision/'>Vision</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1199/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1199&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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			<media:title type="html">jdiamondarnold</media:title>
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		<title>The Privacy Blur of Personal Information</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/13/the-privacy-blur-of-personal-information/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/13/the-privacy-blur-of-personal-information/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:58:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Youngblood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Believable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hiring manager]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Integrity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Randy Conley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TrustWorks!]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[It seems like every day there are new stories of the ongoing privacy battles between online service providers and their individual users.  Facebook always seems to take heat from the public anytime is makes a change to its privacy agreement.   Google has been taking flak for recent changes allowing it to track users across all <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1191&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/privacy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1192 alignleft" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="Snooping Businessman Holding Glass to Wall" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/privacy.jpg?w=300&h=199" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>It seems like every day there are new stories of the ongoing privacy battles between online service providers and their individual users.  Facebook always seems to take heat from the public anytime is makes a change to its privacy agreement.   Google has been taking flak for recent changes allowing it to track users across all of its services, allowing Google to create a profile of users and their interests purposed for extremely targeted marketing.  However, a new battle is brewing around the online privacy of individuals versus those who employ (or will potentially employ) them.</p>
<p>In the last few weeks, there have been a few different stories about whether employers are overstepping their boundaries.  There was <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/teachers-aide-fired-for-refusing-to-hand-over-facebook-password/11246">the teacher who was fired for refusing to give out her Facebook password</a> because a parent who was also a Facebook friend saw a private image they thought was inappropriate and complained to the school.  There also seems to be a new pattern emerging for <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/would-you-give-potential-employers-your-facebook-password/2012/03/29/gIQAlJiqiS_story.html">potential employers asking candidates for their Facebook passwords</a> during the interview or screening process.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/atm.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1193" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="ATM" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/atm.jpg?w=300&h=199" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>The tracking of our online activity is one thing.  Demanding a personal password to gain access to something not pertaining to the workplace (at least in most cases) is another beast in itself.  It can be compared to demanding access to your bank account, or even your medical records.  It is a breach of privacy and a huge violation of trust between employers and employees.</p>
<p> On one hand, I understand that businesses want to make sure that those they employ don’t do anything to embarrass these companies or create bad PR for them.  I previously wrote about a <a href="http://whyleadnow.com/2010/11/12/%e2%80%9cyou%e2%80%99re-fired%e2%80%9d-did-you-criticizing-your-boss-on-the-web/">woman who was fired</a> because she criticized her employer on her Facebook page.  In that particular case, what she posted was public for others to see.  The internet has been around for so long that by now, we should all realize that if we post negative public information about the companies or individuals we work for, it could be used against us when it comes to our job security or future employment opportunities. </p>
<p>On the other hand, Facebook has the private settings for a reason.  Some communications or images we post are not meant for the public.  For example, people may post something to their spouse which they would never share with anyone else.  The only thing accomplished by demanding these personal passwords is that these businesses are creating toxic work environments for themselves. </p>
<p>I’ve mentioned the <a href="http://whyleadnow.com/2011/08/19/when-trust-goes-out-the-window/">ABCD’s of the TrustWorks! model</a> previously, but I want to specifically point out “B – Believable” element in reference to this topic: </p>
<p><em>“<strong>Act with Integrity</strong><strong>.</strong>  Trustworthy leaders are honest with others. They behave in a manner consistent with their stated values, apply company policies fairly, and treat people equitably. “Walking the talk” is essential in building trust in relationships.”- Randy Conley, </em><a href="http://www.leadingwithtrust.com/"><em>www.leadingwithtrust.com</em></a><em> </em></p>
<p>The integrity seems to be missing component from these types of demands. </p>
<p>With that being said, I want to leave you with a hypothetical situation.  Let’s say I was a hiring manager for your potential dream job.  The job consists of everything you’ve wanted to do.  It has your ideal salary and the perfect benefits package:</p>
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<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/behavior/'>Behavior</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/privacy/'>Privacy</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trends/'>Trends</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trust/'>Trust</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1191/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1191&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Beauty of Diversity</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/05/the-beauty-of-diversity/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/04/05/the-beauty-of-diversity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:28:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michelle Siciliano</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Differences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Influence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Passion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Authenticity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beauty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compassion]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1180</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently took a class on human resource management and one of my favorite topics of study was around diversity. Not only is diversity a critical part of employment law, but it can be hugely beneficial to the strategy and success of an organization. Those companies that can move beyond compliance alone toward embracing and <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1180&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/colorful-tulips.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1181" title="colorful tulips" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/colorful-tulips.jpg?w=204&h=300" alt="" width="204" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>I recently took a class on human resource management and one of my favorite topics of study was around diversity. Not only is diversity a critical part of employment law, but it can be hugely beneficial to the strategy and success of an organization. Those companies that can move beyond compliance alone toward embracing and even leveraging our differences will find that they are fostering better workplace cultures, developing more satisfied employees, generating a healthier bottom line, and ultimately making a more positive impact on our world.</p>
<p>Everyday I am inspired by the incredible people around me – friends, family members, and colleagues alike. I can’t help but be grateful for their lives, and particularly the ways in which we are different. I’m not just referring to the color of our skin, nationality, religion, etc…but what makes us tick. Like the longtime girlfriend of mine who challenges my left brain tendencies by constantly generating creative new ideas; visionary is simply a part of who she is. Or the family acquaintance whom I just learned through Facebook is a brilliant musician; he just produced his own music video, in which he plays the guitar, piano, drums, and sings in different segments – who knew! Or my coworker, a fellow project manager, who recently volunteered to facilitate a workshop on career planning at our annual all-company meeting. Amazing! Isn’t it inspiring to see others in their sweet spot?</p>
<p>This sounds so simple, and yet oftentimes I think it is easy to forget; it is easy to lose sight of why our differences should be embraced. Organizations, leaders, individual contributors – people in general – are constantly trying to influence others to see things <em>their</em> way. Of course there are times when that is necessary; without both the leader and follower roles nothing would be accomplished. Yet the reminder here is that, in the end, we weren’t made to be all the same. We are all unique, and our differences produce a collective, even synergistic beauty that could never be realized otherwise. Let’s face it – and I will be the first to admit – life would be pretty dull with just a bunch of Michelles running around! We need those who can imagine, those who can create, those who can analyze, those who can build, those who can wonder, and those who can execute. We simply need each other.</p>
<p>People have <em>so</em> much to bring to the table, sometimes more than they realize. The strengths, gifts, talents, curiosities, and hobbies of others make us all better, stronger, and wiser. Weaknesses even have a place at the table – they can foster a culture of learning, authenticity, and compassion. Based on the research from my class, I took away several key benefits of diversity in the workplace, such as the ability to generate greater creativity in products and client solutions given the larger pool of life experience to draw from, the ability to market to a greater, more diverse customer base, and the ability to attract and retain the best talent out there, to name a few. All of this can generate increased employee engagement and more instances where people are working on activities that transcend time and money – activities that simply produce joy (or intrinsic satisfaction) by working on them.</p>
<p>I think it’s easy to fall into my-way-is-the-best-way tendencies; we trust ourselves and know we’ll do the best job, right? But doing so deprives us of a world of creative opportunity, learning, and growth. As we continue opening ourselves up to others and learning what makes them tick, as well as sharing our own passions, let’s celebrate our collective beauty and remember that we need each other, always.</p>
<p>I would love to get your thoughts on this…  How have you or your organization encouraged diversity and helped others to thrive by using their various gifts?</p>
<p>Thank you for your <a href="http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1180&amp;preview=true#respond">comments</a>!</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/differences/'>Differences</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/diversity/'>Diversity</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/influence/'>Influence</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/leadership/'>Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/learning/'>Learning</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/passion/'>Passion</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trust/'>Trust</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1180/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1180&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>With Greater Leadership Comes Greater Expectation</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/03/16/with-greater-leadership-comes-greater-expectation/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/03/16/with-greater-leadership-comes-greater-expectation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michelle Siciliano</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Criticism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Expectations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Influence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Passion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Perseverance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Standards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classmates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[criticism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Higher Standards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Impact]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Invisible Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kony 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perseverance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Networking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1168</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Like many, my college experience provided the opportunity to make friends and interact with some fascinating people – classmates whom I admire and respect more than they will ever know. We all had our dreams and aspirations, then graduation day came and we parted ways, ready to pursue our passions and make a positive difference <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1168&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/greater-expectations.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1170" title="greater expectations" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/greater-expectations.jpg?w=300&h=225" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>Like many, my college experience provided the opportunity to make friends and interact with some fascinating people – classmates whom I admire and respect more than they will ever know. We all had our dreams and aspirations, then graduation day came and we parted ways, ready to pursue our passions and make a positive difference in this world. We were ready and willing to be the best leaders we could be, prepared to serve others, stand behind our beliefs, and utilize the tools we had acquired – at least as far as our toolbox would take us.</p>
<p>What began as one such dream for a few of these classmates turned into an international charitable organization employing dozens of staff members, enlisting hundreds of volunteers, and impacting countless lives around the world. This past week, something happened to this organization that changed everything: it garnered <em>global</em> media attention virtually overnight. This organization is known as Invisible Children.</p>
<p>You may be familiar with the latest media blitz surrounding this non-profit and their viral video, Kony 2012. The team posted the video last Monday, hoping for 500,000 views by the end of the year. Yet what they received was far beyond their wildest dreams: 52 million views in just four days…and over 78 million views as I write this. This has led to an outpouring of news articles, TV interviews, blog posts, enormous praise, and even a severe backlash of criticism from people around the world, across nearly every major media entity from the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> to TMZ.</p>
<p>Wow. These young leaders must be feeling so many emotions. I would imagine they are thrilled beyond belief to have their message heard by so many people, yet fearful and/or frustrated by the criticism, and perhaps even nervous by the overwhelming attention in general. The international fame happened nearly overnight. Yet whether they were ready or not, this organization and its leaders will forever be held to a higher standard. Their leadership, or perhaps more importantly, others’ perception of their leadership, has been forever changed.</p>
<p>You see, whether we agree with it or not, leading at higher levels requires a new level of perseverance. The higher we go, the more others expect of us. It may not seem fair, but it is a reality. When you reach a certain level of fame, fortune, or position, opposition becomes inevitable. People will take shots at you, even when you know you&#8217;re doing the right thing. Observers will scrutinize your every action just because they can.</p>
<p>As leaders – leaders who are continuously growing and likely aspiring to reach new levels of leadership – we must always remember this. As our ability to influence others and our capacity to act as role models increases, we must expect that higher standards, albeit often unspoken, will be placed over us. As we continuously strive for moral and ethical excellence, we must trust that we&#8217;re doing the right thing, even in the face of criticism. And as we responsibly persevere, we must remember the expectation &#8211; and the privilege &#8211; that the more we receive, the more we must give; the more we lead, the more we must serve.</p>
<p>Our individual leadership journeys may never reach the level that Invisible Children has as an organization (or perhaps they will!), but regardless, the lesson is the same for all. Leadership simply gets tougher the higher you go and the more lives you touch. Not that my opinion matters in this case, but I am enormously proud of my classmates, grateful for their generous work, and fully confident that they will continue to do amazing things for this world… They&#8217;ll face a higher level of scrutiny and more forceful opposition, but as with all great leaders, this will ultimately only strengthen their resolve and improve their effectiveness.</p>
<p>Thank you for your <a href="http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1168&amp;preview=true#respond">Comments</a>!</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/challenges/'>Challenges</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/criticism/'>Criticism</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/expectations/'>Expectations</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/fear/'>Fear</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/influence/'>Influence</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/leadership/'>Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/media/'>Media</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/passion/'>Passion</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/perseverance/'>Perseverance</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/standards/'>Standards</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/vision/'>Vision</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1168/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1168&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Recognition Is A Necessity &#8211; Not A Luxury</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/03/09/recognition-is-a-necessity-not-a-luxury/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/03/09/recognition-is-a-necessity-not-a-luxury/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:23:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Youngblood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feedback]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Managing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Praising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recognition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[direct reports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[individual contributor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kindergarten]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Office Space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1154</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What happens when you forget to consistently recognize the hard work of your employees?  You might find that the “hard” work turns into the bare minimum.  It took my 5 year-old daughter to remind me of this simple truth. My daughter is currently in kindergarten and has been doing great academically ever since the school <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1154&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What happens when you forget to consistently recognize the hard work of your employees?  You might find that the “hard” work turns into the bare minimum.  It took my 5 year-old daughter to remind me of this simple truth.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/recognition.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1155" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="Award Certificate" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/recognition.jpg?w=239&h=300" alt="" width="239" height="300" /></a>My daughter is currently in kindergarten and has been doing great academically ever since the school year started.  However, in the past few months, she’s exhibited some behavior problems when it comes to following the teacher’s instructions or interacting with other students.  My wife and I tried the typical punishments if she had a bad day: time outs, writing sentences, early bedtime, etc…  These punishments previously worked in the past, but lately, it didn’t seem to matter. </p>
<p>After a few different conversations with her teacher, we decided to try a 5-star system.  Her school day would be broken into 5 different time slots, and if she behaved like she was supposed to during that time slot, she would get a star.  Getting 5 stars meant she had an excellent day.  After starting this system, a lot of her behavior problems disappeared. </p>
<p>It hit me that it was my own fault that these behavior problems developed, because I wasn’t recognizing her good behavior.  I’ve always known that kids crave attention and they’ll do anything to get it.  If they cannot get attention by doing well, they’ll misbehave.  One way or the other, they want your eyes on them.  However, I was not doing my part.  I did not fuel her good behavior by constantly praising her when she had good days.</p>
<p>Praising and recognition is not just for kids.  It matters to adults, as well, especially in the work environment.  If you have an employee that spends a lot of time and effort working on a particular project or large task, and you don’t praise them for that hard work, do you think they’ll put as much effort into a similar project or task in the future?&#8230;Probably not.  They’ll likely do the necessary amount of work to finish the job, but the quality may be sub-standard.</p>
<p>When it comes to praising and recognition, you need to remember the following rules:<a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/praise.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1156" style="margin:2px 4px;" title="C" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/praise.jpg?w=264&h=300" alt="" width="264" height="300" /></a></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Don’t under-praise</span>: This was my own problem at home with my daughter.  In a sense, it’s actually a form of neglect.  If you don’t praise people for their efforts, you’ll create the “Office Space” environment where people do just enough not to get fired.  Don’t cut off the recognition supply!</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Don’t over-praise</span>: Yes, it is possible to over-praise someone.  If you tell someone “Great job!” and then 5-minute later, come back and say “Great job!” for the same completed work, your feedback will likely be received as being fake.  That will also create some distrust between you and that individual.</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Recognize the masses</span>: Every group or team has their top performers.  However, in a lot of the companies I’ve worked at in the past, it was <span style="text-decoration:underline;">only</span> the top performers who received the praisings.  You need to make sure everyone gets recognition for a job well done. </li>
<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">It’s not just for your direct reports</span>: Praising and recognition are for everyone!  Your peers will feed off of your recognition of them.  Alternatively, perhaps you’re not a leader, but instead an individual contributor.  Even though you don’t have that position power, praising your team members build relationships and better work quality.</li>
</ol>
<p>It’s easy to forget to praise individuals because we think “It’s their job to do what we need them to do.” We need to remember the recognizing the effort of individuals is a key ingredient to better quality and better work environments.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.com/2012/03/09/recognition-is-a-necessity-not-a-luxury/#respond">Leave your comments!</a></p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/behavior/'>Behavior</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/feedback/'>Feedback</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/leadership/'>Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/managing/'>Managing</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/performance/'>Performance</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/praising/'>Praising</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/productivity/'>Productivity</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/recognition/'>Recognition</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trust/'>Trust</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1154/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1154&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Autonomy@Work</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/02/24/autonomywork/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/02/24/autonomywork/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:01:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Diamond Arnold</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Happiness belongs to the self sufficient&#8221; -Aristotle Autonomy is our desire to choose—to direct our own lives—to have a say in our own destiny. It is one of our core needs as human beings—the freedom to plot our journey through this lifetime as we see fit while contributing to a greater good along the way. <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1147&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Happiness belongs to the self sufficient&#8221; -Aristotle</p>
<p>Autonomy is our desire to choose—to direct our own lives—to have a say in our own destiny. It is one of our core needs as human beings—the freedom to plot our journey through this lifetime as we see fit while contributing to a greater good along the way.</p>
<p><a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/individual.png"><img class=" wp-image alignright" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/individual.png?w=317&h=218" alt="Image" width="317" height="218" /></a></p>
<p>Yet, we often only think of freedom as applicable to our personal lives. But the reality is that we crave freedom in all areas of our lives, including the desire for autonomy at work.</p>
<p>The idea of autonomy at work often seems too abstract and taboo—too difficult to negotiate with the fates and the furies—the “powers that be,” who run the organization big offices in the sky. Yet, autonomy at work is not only core to achieving better workplace performance and personal satisfaction, according to best selling business book author, Dan Pink, it’s also a key factor to achieving overall organizational excellence.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Within organizations, people need to have purpose: In goals that use profit to reach purpose; in words that emphasize more than self-interest; and in policies that allow people to pursue purpose on their own terms.</em> [Drive, 223]</p></blockquote>
<p>Human Resource departments often hear the word autonomy as an open invitation to allowing mere mortals to shape the destiny of the kingdom. But the sooner organizations realize the tremendous synergy and productivity created by releasing the power and potential of their individuals, empowering them to figure out how to do their work with excellence on their own terms, rather than initiated through strict supervision, are set up to achieving higher levels of organizational excellence.</p>
<p>Modern management practices are great to ensure compliance with corporate policies and legalities, but if organizations really want an engaged workforce— essential for success in today’s Knowledge Based society where individuals are challenged to do more complicated and creative problem solving—then they need to allow autonomy to work. A workplace full of Self Leaders is more productive than a workforce that is simply trained to follow corporate policies and outdated power structures, where decisions take weeks to make and moments of inspiration fade into an abyss of procedures.</p>
<blockquote><p>But how do you create autonomy in the workplace? Autonomy is more than a right to be held onto with white knuckled fists. Nor is it a romantic notion of how Utopia Inc. should operate—it is a real and attainable state of being. However, for autonomy to work, you have to work at autonomy.</p></blockquote>
<p>Autonomy at work starts when you begin to challenge assumptions about your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the organization’s operating norms and procedures—even if those norms and procedures seem outdated. Autonomy at work begins to flourish when you’re willing to discover your own personal sources of power through relationships, knowledge, and talents. Only after you have taken on the challenge to know yourself will you then be ready to ask your managers, and the fates that hover at the top of the ancient pyramids, to join you for a dance at the Corporate Ball—collaborating for the overall success of the organization.</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to embrace your destiny! Don’t be afraid to step up and take control of your life and your career. Don’t be afraid to put autonomy to work within your organization. The world needs great organizations that are built on great leaders throughout the entire organization—not just at the top. Today, let us embrace autonomy at work!</p>
<p>Jason Diamond Arnold, Co-Author of <em><a title="Situational Self Leadership in Action" href="http://www.kenblanchard.com/ssliaov/" target="_blank">Situational Self Leadership in Action</a></em></p>
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		<title>Leader as Servant</title>
		<link>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/02/17/leader-as-servant/</link>
		<comments>http://whyleadnow.com/2012/02/17/leader-as-servant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:03:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michelle Siciliano</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Managing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Servant Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Robert Greenleaf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Studs Terkel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teamwork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Well-being]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Who is the servant-leader? The servant-leader is servant first&#8230; It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first. - Robert K. Greenleaf  I recently had the opportunity to take a course on <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1090&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Who is the servant-leader? </em><em>The servant-leader </em>is<em> servant first&#8230; It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve </em>first<em>. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is </em>leader<em> first. </em>- Robert K. Greenleaf<a href="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/hand-holding-heart.jpg"><img class="alignleft" title="servant leadership" src="http://whyleadnow.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/hand-holding-heart.jpg?w=300&h=214" alt="" width="300" height="214" /></a> </p>
<p>I recently had the opportunity to take a course on servant leadership. Its impact on my life was greater than I had anticipated. In today&#8217;s world where society continually encourages us to seek fame, fortune, or power for ourselves, servant leadership challenges us to something much greater&#8230;and perhaps even more difficult to pursue.<br />
 <br />
As human beings, I think we naturally have a tendency to think about ourselves; we desire protection and well-being. But our culture feeds this &#8211; often distorts it &#8211; by telling us to only look out for Number One. Our sense of self becomes the priority across all aspects of life. In the workplace, for example, we often crave leadership. We desire to rise to the top as quickly as possible. Our educational institutions prepare us to climb corporate ladders and become the &#8220;leaders of tomorrow.&#8221; Personally, we feel we&#8217;ve earned it; we deserve <em>something</em> for all our hard work in school and in the workplace, right?<br />
 <br />
Yet servant leadership challenges all of this. It calls us to higher levels of leadership where the self is no longer king, and others become the priority. It stands in stark contrast to the sense of entitlement we often assume. Given today&#8217;s fast-paced, technology-driven world, each of us has more power at our fingertips than ever before. Yet the irony is that this individual empowerment has <em>disconnected</em> us in a sense; we have become somewhat removed from our sense of community. Servant leadership encourages us to face this &#8211; to take the focus off of ourselves and to truly put others&#8217; needs first as we nurture relationships and foster community. In fact, it calls us to love and to serve others so much that out of <em>that</em> a desire for leadership is born&#8230;not the other way around.<br />
 <br />
It&#8217;s interesting&#8230;  In general, but particularly in light of our recent recession, it seems as though people are sharing about what is most important in life, more than ever before. Often it boils down to relationships and love. If that is the case, then those things should matter in the workplace as well. Servant leadership offers a revolutionary yet timeless approach to satisfying this need. It fosters trust, teamwork, and collaboration; it revives the sense of connectedness so often lost on our competitive world.<br />
 <br />
One of my favorite quotes from this class was the following by Studs Terkel:<br />
 <br />
<em>Work is…about a search, too, for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying. </em> <br />
 <br />
Our world can be a broken place, especially in the workplace. Our endless striving to take care of Number One can be exhausting. But isn&#8217;t it amazing how serving others can bring light? Hope? That seems to be the magic of servant leadership. It encourages us to give, to love, to build up, and to cheer each other on in a way that is sustainable. It seems crazy, but perhaps relinquishing our &#8220;all about me&#8221; mentality can actually be of greater benefit to ourselves, personally?<br />
 <br />
It has been fascinating to see more and more companies employ this model as their core organizational philosophy around the world. It is inspiring to see more managers desire to invest in the growth, development, and well-being of their direct-reports, and to see more individual contributors grow into leadership positions because of their desire to serve first. And even more, regardless of title or position, it is inspiring to see more of us serve one another &#8211; colleague to colleague &#8211; as we live out Terkel&#8217;s statement and create a Monday through Friday sort of <em>living</em> for one another.<br />
 <br />
Thank you for your <a href="http://whyleadnow.com/?p=1090&amp;preview=true#respond">Comments</a>!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<br />Filed under: <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/business/'>Business</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/challenges/'>Challenges</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/leadership/'>Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/managing/'>Managing</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/relationships/'>Relationships</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/servant-leadership/'>Servant Leadership</a>, <a href='http://whyleadnow.com/category/trust/'>Trust</a>  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/delicious/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/facebook/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/twitter/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/stumble/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/digg/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/reddit/whyleadnow.wordpress.com/1090/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=whyleadnow.com&#038;blog=12985518&#038;post=1090&#038;subd=whyleadnow&#038;ref=&#038;feed=1" width="1" height="1" />]]></content:encoded>
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