There is no growth even in nature without planting new seeds. Successful leaders understand the common sense truth nature offers daily. If you want your team, organization and company to grow you have to create a cycle of new ideas, good environment, good management, and good marketing. Simple….yet somehow gets complicated with interesting notions.

Fear is the primary impediment of creativity and strong growth. Deming wrote of this with his point number eight “obligation of management” was to drive fear out of the organization. Fear of being fired, reprisals, losing status, or being different weakens the growth cycle of a company. Deming believed that quality, innovation, and creativity all required risk taking and the willingness to speak up.

If you want to have a green and growing company you may have to let go of old notions and create new ones:

*Ask your customers what they want

*Ask your employees how to get there

*Ask your management team to make it happen

*Follow up and communicate the positive small and large steps which are leading to a more productive and growth future

*Treat your managers like leaders and let them learn by doing….just like you did….

If you want your company to grow and change with the world ….so too must you.

In a world where short term results are the measurement of success and the long term vision is not clear…..you lose the heart, talent and creativity of people.

To be a manager means to focus on “the tactics” of getting short term results. To be a leader means to move out the noise, problems and everyday fears so you and your team are moving to a better future.

This seems easy and it is quite hard because there are so many daily distractions and emergencies to pull you from that focus.

The easiest way to begin to move to leadership vs daily blocking and tackling is to:

*Allow others to do their job

*Know mistakes are learning opportunities

*You can’t do everything

*Have “one clear focus” that will take yourself and your team to a better place

*Inspire those around you

*Keep the “one clear focus” for your team and company at the forefront of your conversations

*Say no to things which do not support the clear focus

*Say yes to diverse ideas and opinions to support the achievement of the “one clear focus” and outcome

*Let your team define the process and stay close to milestone events to celebrate, encourage and maintain the focus

*Make sure you give positive feedback to five different people everyday who are moving towards the vision

*Trust yourself and others that focusing on the vision will achieve your results

*Remember fretting on the tactics/process belongs with those who design and manage these items

*Realize problems will occur and that you and your team are adept at handling them…perfection is not about getting everything right it is about getting the job done.

If you don’t lead by vision, inspiration and belief you having nothing to manage or achieve ….except mediocrity.

This is one of the simplest statements and it is the hardest. The impact of this recession will be felt for a long time. The hard and easy part of being a leader during this time ….is to continue to be a leader in the face uncertainty and to maintain your motivation to move in a direction which may be unclear yet “feels right”.

Feelings are taboo to speak of in leadership, business and organizations…..yet they are ‘the secret sauce’ of great leaders and are the source of our drive, the energy which moves us from common execution to uncommon excellence. It is the source which powers impactful leadership.

The important skill to learn is to differentiate between feeling and emotion. One is a source of great wisdom and truth and the later is to act out.

Here are some options to gaining clarity on your feelings:

Walk into nature — if you are an active person, do your exercise in nature and notice what it is telling you …..if you are not an active person, find some way to get quiet to see and hear what nature is speaking to you…

Ask yourself what is the story you have been holding onto that no longers honor you?

What is the first step you can make in a direction that will continue to stretch you and grow you as a leader?
Take the time to gain a practice of listening to your feelings and understand the greatness they are asking you to step into for yourself and others.

To be a leader in today’s world is to commit to the constant choice and practice of self motivation which stems from our belief systems we have built from our youth and require regular “enhancements, upgrades and installments” to honor the adults and leaders we are today. Misery is when we hold on to old ways which keep us stagnant and grumpy. Motivating ourselves towards a better feeling, way of being and leading keeps us growing and vibrant.

Remember we are human and all of us will go to misery now and again…the key is to not set up camp and stay…choose to grow and you will be moving in the right direction.

“Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.” — Martha Graham

Odd words for they seem in direct conflict with Yoda, who we all know is one wise gnome. And the truth of it is that the ability to move in the direction of your dreams and aspirations is directly related to your abilty to move, to make, to do…etc.

What gets in the way is the over thinking, over analyzing, over questioning…all which ulitmately fosters doubt and doubt inherently brings stasis.

The ability to stay true to your nature, your call, your voice is the greatest practice you can have. Learning how to listen and follow is difficult because there is so much noise, fear, uncertainty and doubt about which holds all greatness back.

The practice “of being” requires making regular choices which are in alignment with you, listening to the inner critic with compassion, and staying true to the thrum which allows you to create in a way which is supportive of you and others.

“We work on ourselves in order to help others, but also we help others in order to work on ourselves.” Pema Chodron

The indicator that you are off balance is stasis, keeping habits which do not honor you, closing off to contrary views, developing “reasons” to not move in a direction….

Continue to celebrate the gifts you bring to the world and you lead others to do the same. Continue to make centered decisions and celebrate your ability to choose from your truth. These are the right “activities” which move you from “trying to being”.

“If only we stop trying to be happy, we would have a pretty good time.” Edith Wharton

Those who see the obstacles…actually see obstacles. Those who do not see the obstacles ….do not get stuck. This is such a simple concept and very simply true.

Leaders who have the ability to shift their perspective do not get stuck and have the ability to grow and move forward. Making the shift seems easy and yet there is a process….as follows:

1. Define what is keeping you from moving forward

2. Acknowledge it

3. Define what irritates you about it

4. Consider how you could use your irritation to define a more productive and positive step forward.

5. Define how you could take the first steps in a new direction and what you would have to let go of to move forward

6. Move forward in the new direction

While this seems simple and it is …..it takes trust in yourself, the new direction and the ability to let go to move forward with strength,ease and confidence.

“We may not be able to change an outer circumstance, but we do have a choice in how we perceive it and react to it. A positive attiude is powerful thing.” — Hillary Carlip

— Henry James

The ability to see the mountain(s) and not ignore it is the first step of leadership. Leaders are clear on what is in front of them, they hear the truth, they are honest of their own reaction, and they do not deny the reality before them.

With this clarity and truth Leaders are able to begin to define a way up, through or around to continue in the direction of their dreams and/or vision.

To see the truth takes the following skills:

Observe what is before you
Resist making up stories about why and what
Gain input from others on the experience
Do not judge their words or observations, only listen with openness
Define what is true for yourself
Ask for support, direction, help or advice from others with experience
Map your path forward
Take the first step

Leaders who practice the above are the ones who continue to lead a life uncommon…
Is this you?

The dichotomy of leadership is there really is no one telling you what to do, which is great and than again there is no one telling you what to do….which means it is so about you.

Spending your time and talent in the right areas are key to achieving the success you know is possible. I cannot tell you how many people I meet who so want to be free of people telling them what to do that when they are free…. they become lost and ineffective.

To be a leader a strong and effective leader it takes:

o having a clear set of core values,
o clear and doable goals which are inspirational and aspirational
o the ability to discipline yourself to focus on the right activities to achieve your goals,
o the diligence to constantly learn and grow new skills and behaviors to adapt to new levels of expectations and performance
o take time regularly (aka, daily) to get out of the tactics/doing and reflect to listen to your voice and ensure your actions are in alignment with your goals and core values

To be a leader for others it starts with being a leader for you first. This is not easy work and yet has great impact if you get it and can do it.

To maintain your focus and resiliency as a leader:

o Define daily what you are doing to achieve your goal(s)
o Assess what do you need to shift or change
o Ensure you have the right actions which support your goal(s)
o Open up to new learning, even when you don’t want to

Core questions to reflect on before you take a new path are:

Are you willing to define a new model of success for yourself?

Will you regret not trying?

What are your innate talents that will allow you to survive and thrive on the new path?

How will this change or shift in direction make a difference?

“Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great.”
Fernando Flores

All of us have greatness inside. To activate it is our own choice. Activating greatness requires the ability to reach down inside to be the best expression of self. It is easy to see what is wrong, it is easy to see the opportunities, and it is easy to sit on the side lines. It is hard to define your own path, to be the solution, and to break free from old ways.

To live your greatness the questions you need to ask yourself are:

Do you enjoy being in the stands vs being on the playing field?
Will you regret not expressing yourself more in the world?
What have you squelched on the inside overtime because you felt the world did not want to recieve it?
What will it mean to you to be the most of who you are regardless of result or likability?
What one new behavior or action could you try which would create bold meaning for yourself and the world?

Go on …..dare to learn to ride the leadership bicycle….you are guaranteed to skin your knees….and will definetly enjoy the accomplishment!