The "Inside Track" of Leadership

What all great leaders have in common.

 

Warren Bennis in a highly regarded study established 4 traits common to great leaders. These were:

1. They all had a compelling vision for themselves and their organizations
2. They would communicate the meaning or significance of the vision frequently and passionately
3. They were trusted by others. They were consistent in word and deed and were men and women of clear and strong values.
4. Lastly they had considerable insight into themselves. This often went beyond simply knowing their own strengths and weaknesses but that they engaged in a journey of self discovery.

This reminded me that surely this applies to all of as we travel this journey of life, as we meet life’s challenges and endeavour to leave this place better for our participation.

So, we should consider:

• What is our vision for ourselves? This need not be some grand statement, but a simple, uplifting and guiding reminder that we can and should make a difference, now.
• Importantly, do we refer to it frequently, do we remind ourselves that there are some activities worthy of our full and undivided attention. What Eckhart Tolle calls meeting events being fully present.
• Can others trust us to do what we say we will do? Are our values strong and clear and do we stick to them no matter how difficult the challenge facing us appears to be?
• How meaningful is our intent to simply be ourselves?. To be present, to be conscious, to be awake.

 It all boils down to living each moment in the present and being guided by our inner voice. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “When I’ve been most effective, I’ve listened to that inner voice. To go with that is the purest, truest thing we have”

TRUSTING

 

Discovering your real self.

On the face of it this may appear a surprising statement when dealing with Trust. But think about it. Our journey is aimed at being ourselves, not one of the many faces or roles we play but discovering our authenticity, who we really are and being completely comfortable with that!

It is then a question of trusting that we have enormous and still untapped creativity, intelligence, compassion and talent with which to meet any and every situation. We do not need to know beforehand, in fact “not knowing” and trusting that by being truly present and mindful we can meet the moment and so-call “deliver” is very liberating.

So if you have been following the model, TRUSTING is the final element of BEING and of SPIRIT. What is being suggested is that before we can trust others, or life, we need to trust ourselves. So consider the following:

• Do you trust that you can tap into an enormous pool of energy and creativity?
• Do you even believe that such a reservoir exists?
• Do you set time aside for personal reflection and renewal?
• Do you trust that if you take a first step, the universe comes to meet you?
• Do you allow yourself to be guided on a course of action?

 Here are some pointers that I have found extremely beneficial in my life.

• Commit to your Spiritual regimen, that is finding your own true time.
• Be encouraged to see the use of your quiet time as valuable to yourself and others.
• Find your quiet and private special place and allow the activities to become still.
• Especially allow the emotional responses to pressing issues to subside. (The energy they provide will be there for action later when needed)
• Be interested in the clarity and detail that your inner being reveals.
• Know that this provides direction and that you can and must be awake to following the clues presented as the future unfolds.
• Be open and awake, be present in the moment.
• Enjoy

EMPOWERING

 This weeks post is an extract from my eBook, The Inside Track of Leadership.

“We meet for the first time the concept, or reality, of the paradox. To be empowering, of ourselves or others will require that we are at the same time both confident and humble. Confident, in that others will look to us for steady wisdom and guidance and humble in that we know that we do not have all the answers. But we also learn to appreciate that we are because others are. We are the result of so much that we were not able to influence, in fact we are who we are, have achieved what we have achieved often in spite of ourselves. We are because of powers or events beyond our control, events we could never control! 

And here in lies the paradox. We cannot and did not sit still and wait for some divine intervention to provide. We acted. It is a wonderful dilemma or paradox. Knowing that we do not have control and yet need to act, to take the initiative and be grateful that, as Joseph Jaworski wrote in his book The Inner Path of Leadership, “it is as if hidden hands come to help”.

Hence the paradoxical position of EMPOWERING in the model. It has to do with the BODY in that we are required to act, and it is in the BEING column suggesting that we are all inherently gifted with this talent.

• It is in our nature to empower others.
• It is a gift we must pass on.

The space to experience, the opportunity for reflection on those experiences, the readiness to provide constructive feedback and insights and through this the occasion to learn and grow. So it is  importantly, with ourselves. Yes we are often our harshest critics. And in this way the paradox comes to our assistance. We need to be confident in and trust our actions, our decisions, our golf swing or our shot and then appreciate that we could not do it ourselves. The greatest leaders are both extremely self-confident and supremely humble at the same time. Does this not sound like a description of Nelson Mandela?”  

PATHFINDING

If INSPIRING engages the heart, then PATHFINDING flows from the mind.

As the word signifies, this is about the future. Not living in it, it requires living in the present, but appreciating that change is forever with us and that how we meet it is what is important. Change and the search for creative solutions to constantly raise the bar requires the use of the mind in a different way. It was Einstein who remarked that we cannot solve today’s problems with yesterday’s thinking.

What precisely did he mean by that?

Our common mind loves to live in the past or the future, in regret or anticipation. But it seems destined to repeat what we know, what we have already experienced. That may have worked then, but Einstein seems to suggest that that will mostly fail us now.

So how can the mind meet this challenge facing us now?

Quite simply we have to be present. We have to meet the present from a position of ‘not knowing’, or at least not having to know the answer. It means a complete shift in our thinking, a not thinking and a not using the mind in an habitual way.

So how do we approach real issues in a new and fresh way? 

• By not holding the idea that the future is fixed
• By seeing the future as rich with possibilities
• By realizing that we are part of the unfolding
• By appreciating that potential solutions come to us
• By being deeply interested in how the solution is presented
• By observing a depth of intelligence not ordinarily available
• By listening to the inner voice
• By enjoying the simplicity of the solution
• By being grateful for the insights

Pathfinding does indeed flow from the mind, but not our usual or common mind. This mind, or intuition, insight or whatever name we give it is large, clear and open. It is always available, but requires of us only that we are present, not fearful or arrogant. Learn to trust this uncommon mind, this inner voice for guidance and be courageous to follow it’s direction.

BE INSPIRING

• Do you have a noble and engaging Vision for your life and work?
• Is this clearly articulated?
• Do you refer to it regularly?
• Do you truly believe that you can realise your potential?

In order to be inspiring to others so that they trust and believe in you and would be willing to follow you, you need to trust and believe in yourself.

• So where do the inspired visions come from and what do we understand by trusting yourself?

All the great philosophies and teachings indicate that we are ‘capable, complete and content’ and made in the image of the ultimate creator. There is therefore a universal source of creative intelligence that comes to us and resonates within. Listening to this intelligence, which is not ours, shows a willingness to listen to the inner voice, to our intuition or ‘gut feel’ and then acting on it. It in fact acts as a guide providing direction and the energy to take the necessary steps. This inner voice provides both simple and immediate direction, or it can be profound life changing guidance. Either way, it is always available, patiently waiting our attention. 

Use it therefore to enlighten your personal vision. This requires that you put the necessary time aside to allow the vision to emerge, to become clear and engaging*. It will no doubt evolve over time but the important issue is to trust that it can be achieved and follow it with enthusiasm. This enthusiasm will become infectious and friends, family and associates will be keen to share the unfolding journey with you, offering encouragement and willing success.

Referring to the Model in my eBook and copied below, Inspiring lines up with the Heart. It requires a Plan and a Vision certainly, but crucially it requires engaging the heart, the source of energy, drive and passion. 

*For more on techniques for surfacing your personal vision I recommend reading Dr John Demartini.

     

Leaders; Born, made or both?

 I am often asked are leaders born or made. The issue really is can I be a leader, and the answer is for sure. Leadership is an action, an attitude and we all are faced with moments when we need to display the qualities of leadership, either in the home, on the sports field, in the community or in business. 

To be a good leader however, we first need to lead ourselves. We need to understand ourselves and in my experience the great leaders understood themselves very well and were willing to learn, continuously. Leadership, like life is a journey, not a position.

The model which I have found most useful and the one I wish to share is based on the following two axes: 

• DO BE HAVE, that I introduced in the last post, and
• HEART MIND BODY SPIRIT

Please see the Model below which indicates the areas that will be covered in the coming weeks. 

Following this and the techniques suggested I believe you can fulfill your leadership potential, and my life’s purpose is to help everyone realize their potential. There, I said it.

We all have the innate potential to excel, to live a large and fulfilled life. It does require discipline, determination, living in the present and trusting that help is always available. 

Leadership activities will need to be attended to, however the real challenge is to live in the present, get out of the habitual mode of thinking, trust our creative intuition and just BE. In the weeks to come we will explore the following:

• BE Inspiring
• BE Path finding
• BE Empowering
• BE Trusting

We are all born with leadership potential and we all need to strive to express our talents and make them useful.   

DO HAVE BE or BE DO HAVE

Rightfully we are taught in life that we have to DO in order to gain or HAVE things and ultimately we BEcome something. So we study and work hard and diligently in order to acquire a qualification or occupation and finally become recognized as an accountant, or senior accountant, even Partner or Managing Director. This is all fine and well, unless of course one day we retire, are retrenched or feel unfulfilled. The biggest danger lies in our becoming completely identified with specific roles and that no matter how successful we are, deep down we know that there is, or was so much more.

So let’s examine when we approach this from the basis of BE DO HAVE. What if we could just BE, be present, be alive to possibilities in every moment and be certain that we are already ‘capable, complete and content’. Then we would be guided into action, to DO whatever faces us and ultimately enjoy or HAVE the rewards that that brings.

Let me illustrate what is meant. 

Steve, the MD of a technology company returned from a rare vacation with what seems to be a brilliant idea for the business. He could rightfully feel that it was his idea, but more accurately by taking the vacation, by being present, it provided the space in which creativity could operate; and this allowed the idea to come to him. That’s right, when we simply BE, being present and attending then creativity flows, in fact comes to us. Ideas, direction, advice comes to us. Then that calls forth activity and we then need to DO something. In Steve’s case this could mean months and years of hard work to bring about and realize the potential of the seed. But even in ordinary ways we need to follow those clear moments which direct us to make that call, to send the email, buy the gift and the like. What we HAVE then is the freedom of enjoying a life that flows, that is fresh and exciting and we are able to meet fully the consequences and deal with them in the same fresh way. 

My view is that by being willing to let go of our concepts and quieten the noise of thinking that we have to know everything, if we can stay present and attend patiently, the energy and knowledge of how to proceed will show itself. One brilliant idea could take a while to complete but we will know what immediate steps to take and that will bring the reward of real fulfillment, we will have the sense of discovering our purpose.

The immediate tips then are:

• BE present
• Do attend
• HAVE courage

For more on this model and how it applies to leadership, please email me for a free copy of the eBook ‘The Inside Track of Leadership’.

Finding your life’s purpose

I appreciate that this is the big one, so will not appear to minimize this into a few easy steps. No, this is for most of us a life’s journey, but let us explore the fundamental and underlying assumptions on which we base our attitude to life.

 

• Do we genuinely believe that we do have a meaningful purpose and contribution to make?
• Do we believe that we are in the first place ‘worthy’ enough to make a contribution?
• Do we believe in a larger intelligence, the universal hidden hands if you will, willing us to succeed?
• Do we believe that we can indeed discover a purpose, no matter our age, qualifications or stage of life?

All the great philosophies urge us to ‘know’ or discover ourselves. This journey of increasing self-awareness or self discovery is also designed to reveal our true nature or potential. This it is said, is that we are indeed ‘capable, complete and content’. We just need to discover or simply believe this.

It is a journey of discovery, an exciting one in which each moment, being present, can reveal the Truth of these statements.

So my contention is this; we all have a real contribution to make and that it is not really up to us to decide whether it is significant or not. Each moment is precious and that the meaning is in the moment, that what we can do, is meet each situation by being fully present. With this in mind, our purpose then matters now, how we meet each person or situation governs our purpose or contribution. Then, no matter how challenging, stimulating or difficult the situation we encounter may be, we can see each as significant, developmental, as a blessing, as another useful step or indicator on the journey. 

Living like this, these moments provide joy, fulfillment and a sense of worth. This often opens the heart to the passion of the work or quietly directs the attention to new opportunities that seem miraculously to open up. We need to take the first steps to make it happen and then to trust that guidance and support is available, in other words to also allow it to happen.