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Becky Robinson
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Becky Robinson is now following Scott Couchenour
Jun 7, 2010
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Apr 25, 2010
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Apr 25, 2010
Becky Robinson is now following Jamie
Apr 25, 2010
Monica - Don't know how I missed you in responding to today's comments. I think your point about people being afraid to share themselves with others is an interesting one. Seems like the courage to share oneself with others may be a prerequisite to making a difference as a leader. What do you think?
Valuing and Engaging the Whole Person
Before kids, I loved naps. In the years since my daughters were born, daytime rest has all but disappeared from my life. Because of that, I have fond memories of great naps from days gone by. Here's one: when I was in college, a close friend and mentor cancelled our regular appointment so we cou...
Sonia - Thank you for sharing your story, as well. Your mentor did give you an amazing gift, helping to launch you into your career.
Anne - The SVP you describe seems to epitomize this concept. I wonder what else we could learn from him. (Sounds like a blog post.) Are there any other qualities that set the SVP apart? Is he able to inspire leaders at other levels in his organization to value their employees also?
Shabeer - thanks for stopping by. It is never too late to find a good mentor. Even if you can't find one in real life, you may be able to find someone online who would be
willing to give you encouragement and direction.
Tanmay - I agree. Human beings vs. human resources = good distinction.
Tanveer - Glad you enjoyed the post. I look forward to reading your post on the topic.
Valuing and Engaging the Whole Person
Before kids, I loved naps. In the years since my daughters were born, daytime rest has all but disappeared from my life. Because of that, I have fond memories of great naps from days gone by. Here's one: when I was in college, a close friend and mentor cancelled our regular appointment so we cou...
Thanks so much for all the thoughtful comments today.
Dean - great distinction you make about knowing people on a deep vs. superficial level. I think people really sense when we are only superficially interested in them.
J. Michael - You ask a terrific question. What do we do when we work for a company that is only interested in people as commodities or people who agree with the boss? I don't think there is a quick answer to that question but it certainly something I would like to consider further. One thing we can do: we can lead from where we are, beginning to model care and concern for others, EVEN IF NOONE ELSE IS.
Nancy - I agree with you wholeheartedly that we need to be intentional about developing relationships. Social media can be a distraction,AND it can open up new ways to engage with others.
Paul - that is a great story. Thanks for sharing it here. Everyone should have a teacher like that!
Valuing and Engaging the Whole Person
Before kids, I loved naps. In the years since my daughters were born, daytime rest has all but disappeared from my life. Because of that, I have fond memories of great naps from days gone by. Here's one: when I was in college, a close friend and mentor cancelled our regular appointment so we cou...
Thank you, Sonia.
I hope to be including more helpful ideas throughout the month as we encourage one another to value and engage others.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.
Do you "FlyLady"?
In my quest to organize my life and home more effectively, I have tried a lot of different systems — some more successfully than others. One of my favorites is FlyLady. FlyLady breaks home maintenance into a system of "baby steps" and daily routines; she reinforces her followers with large dose...
Oh, so sweet, Jamie! Brings back memories of my girls when they were around one. So happy that your sweet girl is enjoying her dolls. Wish you could bring her up to Chicago for a playdate.
A Little Girl
Maybe this won't be surprising to anybody else. Maybe it's just that I had four boys first. But Stella loves her babies. We have three dolls in this house and she carries them around and around, one in each fist, until she gets to the one she dropped last. She switches babies and toddles off. ...
I am glad to see you back, Steve. This post is spot on. The idea of "laser-like clarity" makes perfect sense to me.
Leadership: Actually, It Is About You
How do you know a leader when you see one? Here is a simple, straight definition of a leader that I think works in every situation: "Leaders are people who can inspire others to participate." Period. Why is it about you? Because the first move is becoming clear about your own purpose. It's this ...
Thanks for checking in, Steve. I will definitely keep you and your family in my prayers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Since this is my first holiday season with All Things Workplace, I thought this might be just a normal holiday break for you. Otherwise, I would have been bombarding you with emails. :)
So How Was Your Family Holiday? Since You Asked. . .
I've written previously about the stress and nuttiness that can accompany family gatherings, particularly at special times. Like Christmas. So when our daughter mentioned to her grandfather (my dad) that it looked as if he had an unusual mark on his face, he replied, "Oh, yes, that's cancer. I d...
Thanks, Dan. I appreciate all you do to encourage leaders (including me). You have made an important difference in this blog's development. Looking forward to more collaboration with you.
Monica, I appreciate you being a part of the community here, and on Twitter. I am always encouraged by your commitment to esteeming others.
My Favorite Things about LeaderTalk in 2009
This has been a great year for LeaderTalk. Since our launch in April, we have had over 125 posts and grown a community of readers who share an interest in leadership. Here's a list of my favorite features at LeaderTalk this year: Principles Posts. We have been working our way through the Leaders...
Thanks for the good wishes, Miki.
I have enjoyed getting to know you, also, and I'm glad you enjoy my posts.
We are enjoying a quiet Christmas in Chicago and looking forward to being in our new home next year.
I wish you all the best in 2010, Miki.
I'll update the blogroll to include your other blog when Leadership Turn ends this week.
Christmas Thoughts
I have a new favorite place to write. It’s an odd place, not the most comfortable spot in the house. I’ve adopted this spot, though, because my youngest daughter is learning how to fall asleep on her own. As long as I am sitting nearby, she will lie quietly in her bed and eventually go to sleep....
Hi Steve,
I have a friend who is absolutely excellent in showing empathy and asking helpful questions. I think she has even asked me some of these verbatim at times.
It seems to me that asking these type of helpful questions may be separate from showing empathy, though, because while I feel that I am an empathetic person, your helpful questions do not easily come to my mind. I think I'll have to write them on an index card and put them in my pocket. They're the kind of questions I want to ask others, and great ones to ask myself as well.
Thanks!
How To Gauge Other People's Concerns
Employees at all levels are giving high priority to the issue of respect in the workplace. As a result, "emotional intelligence" and empathy at work have catapulted to importance in the management/leadership realm. And, for good reason: mis-reading or totally missing someone else's "stuff" can c...
Wow – Thanks so much. What an honor! I am glad you’re back and doing well…
Best,
Becky
100 % Present NOW!
"Already 7 days without twitter. I survived! :-)" This is where I was, "into the Wild"... I left home saturday morning with my husband, 3 of my children, one of their friend and my father -in -law, for one week near Pradelles, Auvergne (France), knowing that I would not be able to access any...
I was wondering where you were! I am glad you have been enjoying a wonderful vacation and such good time to reflect about your priorities. I have missed your warmth and encouragement on Twitter but admire your steadfastness and resolve to find the time in life for what is truly important.
100 % Present NOW!
"Already 7 days without twitter. I survived! :-)" This is where I was, "into the Wild"... I left home saturday morning with my husband, 3 of my children, one of their friend and my father -in -law, for one week near Pradelles, Auvergne (France), knowing that I would not be able to access any...
Steve,
You make an important point about building a top-notch online identity. In developing LeaderTalk, one thing I am finding is that people are connecting to me as an individual first. It seems that in order to have an effective online presence, organizations need a person to represent them. Building relationships (which you seem to excel at!)is by far the best way to get good work done.
Becky
5 Tips to Ethical & Successful Influence
I was just asked how I built our speaking/consulting/coaching practice over the years (we incorporated and began it part-time in 1977). Here is the answer: I didn't know what I was doing. So I just did whatever I knew. Looking back, the answer is clear: a. I wanted to use my expertise to help p...
Steve,
Thanks for sharing your million dollar suggestions for free. It is a great suggestion, and one I can't wait to have the opportunity to try out. I imagine that talking with people ahead of time really helps to build the connection you talked about in your last post. It not only helps the speaker, but also builds the anticipation/enthusiasm of those attending the meeting as well.
Four Tips Four Presenting at the Meeting Table
When we think of presentations, more often than not the image is one of a person standing up and speaking to a group. My experience: The most common type of speaking and presenting occurs across a meeting room table. In fact, this offers a chance at more intimacy, give-and-take, and takes a lo...
Steve,
I think you're spot on with your idea that speakers need to be themselves. The best speakers I have heard are the ones whose sincere enthusiasm for their topics has been unmistakeable.
You started your piece by saying that your tips apply to groups of 6 to 6000, but do you think it's possible that authenticity is more important with a smaller group? Or maybe it is more challenging for some speakers to connect with a larger audience?
Speaking? 3 Ways To Satisfy Your Audience
Audiences--whether 6 or 600--really want three things from you. These apply to meetings, wedding toasts, or keynote speeches: 1. Connection. They want to feel connected with you. They've already endured too many distant, aloof presentations in their lifetimes. Give them you, not a veiled voic...
I shared this on Facebook and tweeted some thanks with a link to your blog.
Have a great day, Steve.
Remembering What Is Important
I hope that everyone who uses today's U.S. holiday to be with family and friends indeed has a day of close relationships and fun. I also hope that there is a time in the conversation where a sincere acknowledgment is made of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom to be together toda...
Thanks, Steve!
Remembering What Is Important
I hope that everyone who uses today's U.S. holiday to be with family and friends indeed has a day of close relationships and fun. I also hope that there is a time in the conversation where a sincere acknowledgment is made of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom to be together toda...
Thanks for the links, Steve, I will check them out. I am also blogging about remembering today: come by and take a look:
http://mountainstate.typepad.com/leadership/
Remembering What Is Important
I hope that everyone who uses today's U.S. holiday to be with family and friends indeed has a day of close relationships and fun. I also hope that there is a time in the conversation where a sincere acknowledgment is made of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom to be together toda...
Good reminder, Jamie, I have plenty of days like that. I'll be thinking of heaven a lot!
Ascension
I was admiring my baby's hair a few days ago. It's too fine for me to take a picture, but she has little waving strands that stand straight up, undulating skyward. I smiled and thought, "Maybe they're reminding me to turn my eyes toward heaven." Last night I went out impulsively and got six inch...
Hi Steve,
Great points. Here is another idea:
Be aware and sensitive to different cultural values and how they may affect your listeners. An example: time orientation. Many other cultures are much less monochronic than we are in the US. Instead of getting frustrated about your audience's seeming indifference to schedules, remember that your listeners may have other values, like relationship building, that take precedence over sticking to a strict time schedule.
Four Tips for Global Presenters
According to the International Labor Organization, 70% of multinational business ventures fail due to cultural differences. Even if you aren't traveling and speaking to international groups, you're probably presenting to audiences in your home country that are more multicultural than you may r...
Steve,
I am new to your blog so I never saw the first post. Thank you for returning to this topic. The idea that we fear success because it shows that we have the power to change resonates deeply with me. I also agree that we fear the unknowns of the future; we fear that success will bring other changes to our lives, not all pleasant.
Fear of Success and Lasting Change: Part 1
Apparently fear of failure takes a back seat to fear of success in the search engines. After two years, I'm still getting regular traffic to an article I wrote in July, 2007 titled Fear of Success vs. Fear of Failure. When I say 'regular' traffic I mean every day. Really. Getting what you really...
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