Sunday, January 31, 2010

Be Respectful

What does it mean to be respectful? What does it mean to listen to someone? Does it mean to take their advice and do whatever they say? Or does it mean to consider their opinion, to strive to meet their needs, to engage in civil discourse, to be honest and humble, and to find as many areas of agreement as possible? Of those two options, I prefer the latter understanding. Respect is not just about showing deference, although at times it's smart to be deferential. Most of the time, however, we can and should speak our mind freely as long as we do so respectfully. Can that happen, especially in the face of strong disagreements? I strive to make that case in today's Provision. Read Entire Article...

Coaching Inquiries: What's your commitment when it comes to respect? Would you say you model respect in all your dealings? How can you cultivate that posture as a strong and present value? What needs would it meet for you to do so? How can you carry yourself forward in that direction? Who would be willing to go with you on the trek?

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Global Weirding

It was Thomas Friedman, in his book Hot, Flat, and Crowded, who introduced me to the notion of Global Wierding. He credits Hunter Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute as inventing the term. We are not going to see gradual warming. We are going to see weird weather, and often dangerous weather, popping up all over the place.

"The rise in global average temperature (global warming)," writes Friedman, "is actually going to trigger all sorts of unusual weather events – from hotter heat spells and droughts in some places to heavier snows in others, to more violent storms, more intense flooding, downpours, forest fires, and species loss in still others. The weather," in other words, "is going to get weird. It already has."

Interesting story in today's Washington Post on how this is playing out this winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Opinion polls show waning support in the USA for the notion of global warming as being related to human population growth and activities. So, like deficit spending, we push the problem downstream, take our chances, and risk the consequences.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Property Rights

Laser Provision: Most people know of the most famous sentence in the United States Declaration of Independence, namely that people "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Most people do not know, however, that earlier documents and drafts asserted the Rights to "Life, Liberty, and Property." It was taken as self-evident that people had the right to own things and to protect as well as to add value to what they owned. "Do not steal," the eighth commandment of Moses, reflects that understanding. But property rights are a complicated guideline for living, and I invite you to read further to explore them more fully. Read Full Provision Here...

Coaching Inquiries: How do you understand your right to the property you own? How can you best use your property and resources to preserve and protect the rights of others? What fears do you have when you think of sharing your property with others? How can you reach beyond your fears to see the needs? Who embodies for you a happy and healthy relationship to money? How can you become more like them?

To talk with us about coaching or consulting services for yourself or your organization, use our Contact for Coaching Form to arrange for a complimentary conversation.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Development Dollars

In the Harvard Business Review Conversation Blog, Thomas Ogden writes a compelling essay urging companies and individuals to hold back some of their giving for Haiti until after the dust settles on disaster relief. The problem, he argues, is an unfortunate and discernable pattern when things like this happen:
  1. Donations spike in the immediate aftermath.
  2. A huge portion of the funds donated are spent on setting up disaster-relief operations that are no longer the primary need.
  3. A flood of cash and materials cause a logistics nightmare leading to waste and ineffectiveness, if not corruption.
  4. Six months later, reconstruction stalls because the world's attention has moved elsewhere.
  5. And, finally, a series of reports bemoan the fact that too many funds are devoted to disaster relief and not enough to disaster preparedness and reconstruction.
The solution, Ogden argues, is not to suspend relief efforts. That would be heartbreaking and cruel. The solution is to give regularly to thoroughly vetted organizations, such as Partners In Health, so they can respond to emergencies when and where they happen and so they can better facilitate economic and human development during ordinary times. One-time, flash-in-the-pan giving, in response to the disaster of the moment, does not bring long-term relief and invites as many problems as it solves. Ongoing and generous support is the only way to make a real difference in good times and bad.

When companies and individuals adopt such practices, Haitians and other, future disaster victims will benefit most in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. "One way to do this," Ogden concludes, "that engages employees and customers, is to match the dollars they contribute for immediate relief with a corporate gift for reconstruction, to be given in six or eight months. By that time it will be clear which areas of the rebuilding effort are underfunded. You'll also have time to thoroughly vet agencies, projects, and so forth, to ensure that your donations will do the most good."

The bottom line is that property rights impose social responsibilities. The haves must be smart in assisting the have-nots or we will be constantly struggling to pull drowning people out of the river. It's important that we do that, but it's even more important that we attend to the structures to keep people from falling into the river in the first place.

Coaching Inquiries: What is your pattern of giving? How often do you take the long-term view when it comes to economic and human development? How can you be smarter and more generous about sharing your resources with others? Who could you challenge to be more financially responsible and engaged?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Be Honest

Laser Provision:  It's not always easy to be honest. Sometimes it seems impolite. Why not tell a little lie, or avoid telling the whole truth, to protect someone's feelings? Other times it seems much more costly in terms of our reputation, finances, or influence. Why not tell a big lie, or make up a whole new story, to protect our own interests and / or the interests of others? Then we have those who are paid to lie in the name of "intelligence" or "national security." Honesty is a coveted yet complicated value and today's Provision hopes to sort out some of the nuances. Let me know your thoughts after you read through to the end. Read the Full Provision Here...

Coaching Inquiries: What standards do you hold yourself to when it comes to honesty? How strict are you when it comes to never telling a lie? How would you like to enhance your relationship with the truth? Who could become your "honesty buddy" in life and work?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Outsmart Your Brain

This past week I spent a day with Marcia Reynolds, a Master Certified Coach, past president of the International Coach Federation, and a Certified Speaking Professional from the National Speaking Association. The focus of her workshop was on the Anatomy of a Keynote speech, but she is best known for her book, Outsmart Your Brain, which applies cognitive neuroscience to leadership. Here is a recent issue of her Brain Tips Newsletter based upon a film that I, too, appreciated and enjoyed thoroughly:
"There are many wonderful lessons on leadership in Clint Eastwood's new film Invictus, a movie based on how Nelson Mandela changed the conversation in South Africa from divisiveness to solidarity. Whether you are an executive, a manager, a coach, a speaker or a writer, you are seeking a following. Here are some tips to help you build your community.

Mandela demonstrated the power of engaging people who see the world differently than you do. It’s easy to get like-minded people to follow you. Yet, as Peter Block says, “Like-mindedness is the enemy of the future.” Your strength as a leader is to engage everyone and to unify diverse, creative thought toward a common mission. Here are a few tips gleaned from Mandela’s wisdom:

Leadership Tip #1: Help people know they can accomplish more than they thought they could. Stand for what is possible not just in your organization, but for each individual including low performers. Your belief in them will often change their minds.

Leadership Tip #2: Truly see people. Know what their joys in life are. Know what they hope for. Know what they think stands in their way. One of the bodyguards in the movie said that he felt he was invisible to the president before Mandela. Yet Mandela knew he loved toffee and often brought it to him after a trip. Feeling visible inspired his dedication and achievement.

Leadership Tip #3: When people come to you for advice, don’t give it to them right away. Discern what they know and fear first, and then discover the answers together. Being “the one who knows” stunts their growth. In Gary Cohen's new book, Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions, he shows how CEOs, managers, and supervisors can ask the right questions in the right contexts. This empowers coworkers, opening the door to greater productivity and creativity. Gary draws on his own experience as a successful CEO and from his interviews with 100 leaders across the country.

Leadership Tip #4: Forgive. What truly inspired the captain of the rugby team to align with Mandela and lead his team to the World Cup was Mandela’s ability to forgive those who imprisoned him for 27 years. Mandela changed the conversation from Us vs. Them by refusing to fall victim to negative emotions. He didn’t want to live in the story of the past. He sought to create a new story for South Africa based on creating the future. This required hope, not revenge.

The poem, Invictus, written by William Ernest Henley in 1875, kept Mandela’s resolve during his dark years in prison. The last two lines read, "I am the master of my destiny. I am the captain of my soul."

As a leader, you are an example whether you are consciously choosing your behavior or not. Don’t let past transgressions and current fears dictate your behavior. Be clear about your mission, and then see the gifts each person brings to the table. People will follow you based on how you acknowledge and treat them. No matter how brilliant you are, you must show that you care about them to engage their commitment to you and your cause. You can do this if you remain the master of your brain, commandeering your emotions and your actions in the service of your vision."
Want to read more? I encourage to visit Marcia's website, OutsmartYourBrain.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

Coaching Inquiries: How do you respond to challenges in life and work? When life throws you a problem, do you see a possibility? How do you explore those possibilities to generate creative, new alternatives. Who is your mentor when it comes to leadership? How can you be more of a leader from whatever positions you hold?

If you would like to learn more about our Coaching Programs and to arrange for a complementary coaching session, Click Here or Email Us.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Seeing You

This poem was written after seeing the movie Avatar. It speaks to the value of connection and deep appreciation for all of life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed writing it.
Seeing You
by Bob Tschannen-Moran © 2010

When I see you
And you see me
We all see better
Together

When I understand your feelings
And you understand mine
We all understand each other
Better
Together

When I recognize your needs
And you recognize mine
We all recognize the source of life
Vitally
Better
Together

When I hear what you want
And you hear what I want
We all hear how to make life
More Wonderful
Vitally
Better
Together

Coaching Inquiries: Who sees you? Who do you see? How can your connection and mutuality be enhanced? What would make your life more wonderful? How could you make life more wonderful? Vitally. Better. Together.

If you find this poem intriguing, use the Contact Form or Email Bob with your response. We'd love to hear from you and to offer you a complimentary telephone coaching session. Enjoy!