Stating the Obvious?
Monday, June 21, 2004
I spend a lot of time scanning the landscape for things that I believe are powerful or relevant or important. I believe that discovering different ways to help people see something a little bit differently -- often something they already know -- can have a great deal of power.
I was scanning Fast Company's site and come across a series of pithy quotes about what Leadership is from a gathering of names in today's corporate world.
What struck me was not the actual things that these people were saying. Yes, they all had some great, concise words of wisdom and definitions of what (successful) Leadership can be. What struck me was how simple and how obvious so much of what they were saying really was.
..."Communicate..."
..."Listen..."
..."Get out of the way..."
..."Define and declare your vision..."
..."Inspire followers. Make decisions. Give recognition. Open doors..."
..."Walk the talk..."
I mean, how complex are these messages?
Yet, so many leaders that I work with and that colleagues of mine work with struggle with some, if not all, of these things.
In my coaching, I spend a great deal of time and energy helping leaders get out of their own way. Their ego or their fear closes off their ears, retards their judgment, an inhibits their vision. By helping people free their own gifts, by helping them slow down -- even for just a minute -- so much more becomes possible. For them. For the people who work with them. And for the people in their organizations.
I was scanning Fast Company's site and come across a series of pithy quotes about what Leadership is from a gathering of names in today's corporate world.
What struck me was not the actual things that these people were saying. Yes, they all had some great, concise words of wisdom and definitions of what (successful) Leadership can be. What struck me was how simple and how obvious so much of what they were saying really was.
..."Communicate..."
..."Listen..."
..."Get out of the way..."
..."Define and declare your vision..."
..."Inspire followers. Make decisions. Give recognition. Open doors..."
..."Walk the talk..."
I mean, how complex are these messages?
Yet, so many leaders that I work with and that colleagues of mine work with struggle with some, if not all, of these things.
In my coaching, I spend a great deal of time and energy helping leaders get out of their own way. Their ego or their fear closes off their ears, retards their judgment, an inhibits their vision. By helping people free their own gifts, by helping them slow down -- even for just a minute -- so much more becomes possible. For them. For the people who work with them. And for the people in their organizations.
