In this month’s video newsletter, David goes in depth explaining the true power of vision.  He shows how one’s genius can be unleashed through the power of vision and makes a compelling case for vision being the antidote to many of today’s business challenges.  If you like the video then sign up for this month’s webinar entitled “What Does it Take to Be a Visionary Leader?” by following this link.

 

In the last entry we spoke about the Three Keystones of Leadership – Gravitas, Achievement and Influence. The foundation of leveraging these keystones in yourself comes from four primary catalysts:

• A desire to ramp up one’s impact as a leader
• Becoming open to increasing one’s self-awareness around their desired impact and current state as a leader.
• Engaging in some process that measurably increases their power in at least one or more of the keystone areas.
• The willingness to learn and change.

It is clear that developing stronger leadership is absolutely necessary if one is to have both personal fulfillment and greater success. When one realizes they are the instrument for not only their success but the success of their staff and the organization around them – a desire grows to become a better instrument.  As this desire to become a better instrument for the vision grows a leader will begin to become more aware of what they do well and what is holding them back from being an even better leader. As one stays focused on having greater impact and sees the strengths as well as the gaps – there is a growing willingness to stretch, learn and change.  This is a natural unfolding that most experience as they embrace the development journey.

Yet, for many there is a resistance to stepping into the development process.  Why?  Because when you do you must face yourself.  If there is not the recognition around the value of change the very part of ourselves we must change in order to grow resists the process of transformation.  In my view this is why leadership development is not embraced more widely.  It has nothing to do with budget or the questions as to its value.  Even as more and more research has shown the return on investment from the development of leadership – executives and organization’s resist.  Yet, as change continues to escalate and the complexities of a global world impact our competitive edge more and more – executives will come to realize that one of the only ways they can gain some edge is through their own development.  Human beings are funny creatures – it tends to take pain or failure to generate the desire to grow and change.  That being said, every leader I have known who has ever fully embraced the development journey finds it enriching once they get under way with it.  There are always a few rough spots in the development process but for the most part the leaders to step into it find most of the experience quite enjoyable.

There are so many definitions of leadership.  Yet, if you look at most models and their competencies, they all boil down to three keystones.  Let’s take a look at each of these:

1. Gravitas comes from the power of ones self image, purpose and integrity.  It is expressed through a leader’s authentic physical, emotional and spiritual presence.
2. Achievement comes from the power of vision and focus.  It is expressed through the ability of a leader to move forward key personal and organizational priorities.
3. Influence comes from the power to create mutual value, inspire, and motivate.  It is expressed through our ability to engage others in meaningful, respectful and trustworthy ways.

There are many competencies a leader must develop under these keystones yet these are the primary areas to measure a leader’s impact.  Ultimately an extraordinary leader must have a foundation of personal purpose and power, must be able to influence others and ultimately must generate high value results.  In my next entry I will talk, at a high level, about what it takes to develop these keystones.

 

Brene Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.  This video has major implications in how we lead and build cultures.  When you consider that one of the prime drivers of being human is to make connections.  Yet, we find ourselves more and more in a virtual world where human connection is being diluted.  Brown points to some of the maladies of our time like rising debt, addiction, and fanaticism – as symptoms of a loss of real connection.  The rising tide of twittering, texting and email – while wonderful inventions – have dismantled connection as well.  Enjoy this wonderful presentation.

 

By Callie Claire Durista and David Utts

 

In part I and part II of this series we shared how we are facing a growing experience of overwhelm at work and in our lives.  There is just not a sense we are able to keep up any more. Further we highlighted that overwhelm is not so much a symptom of our times as it is a symptom of trying to use outdated means to be successful during the times we find ourselves in.  In short, these times are calling for a transformation in our approach to working and living.    As mentioned the earlier entries the biggest thing we are all being called to do is evolve how we relate to our own thinking, feelings and resulting behaviors.   The fields of biology, neurobiology and quantum physics are highlighting that our power as human beings comes from taking full responsibility for our thoughts, to take full advantage of our freedom we experience by making conscious choices (versus just being on automatic pilot) and ultimately to direct our success and happiness from the inside out.  In short, we are creative beings and today’s times are demanding we raise our game!

While the foundation for all of this must be taking charge of our thinking – there are additional core principles and practices that can be deployed to assist you in vastly decreasing overwhelm at work and in life.  They are the “GUTS^TM” of gaining greater control and here they are:

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