Week 12 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

As always, this last class had their biggest opportunity in improving their leadership performance as indicated by the Leadership Practices Inventory question #16 – “Asks for feedback on how his/her actions affect other people’s performance”. We’ll address not only why it is difficult, but some ways to approach it though this week’s theme – Are you ready, willing, and able to be coached?

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quote for the week of March 23^rd – March 29^th: “You can’t talk yourself out of a problem you behave yourself into.” – Stephen Covey
• Well actually you can . . . it’s called DENIAL! I often joke that “the state of denial is a beautiful place.” I came across this a couple of times this week and the Johari Window model came to mind (see Johari Window Model). This model provides a picture into what a trusted person, including your coach, can provide you like no one else.
• We all have “blind areas’ – known by others but unknown by self. We solicit feedback through 360⁰ data or team assessment data and then we have a choice. Are we truly ready, willing, and able to be coached? If you are, it’s no longer denial.
• Sometimes the “unknown area” (unknown by self/unknown by others – you don’t know what you don’t know!) is the biggest obstacle, but it’s where the most opportunity for transformation lies. If we have never experienced something (a great team, a loving, intimate relationship) we may not know what we are missing or think we have it, at least according to what we have experienced. If you do nothing, it is worse than denial because you and your team/organization cannot be all it can be.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Eleven Assignment – Take Back Your Power
• Do you have clarity and focus? NO ONE can take them away from you, and more importantly, NO ONE can keep you from fulfilling it without your permission.
• Week Twelve Assignment – Learn from the Mirror of Relationships
• A great random selection given the Johari Window Model reference above. Seek out two people whom you admire, and invite them to answer these questions:
• What about me inspires you the most?
• What do you think is possible for me in the year to come?
• What behavior, habit, or belief do you think I would have to give up in order to make this the best year of my life?
• What skills and abilities do I have that you would like to see me develop?
• Look for common themes and act upon them.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop
• I sent out five drops this week. How many did you send? How do you feel when you did? I know the receivers LOVE THEM!!!
• Make one of your drops a blog comment to share with our community and get a free Simple Truths Book/DVD of your choice as a reward.

To date, we have 152 subscribers. My goal is 1,000 by year end. Invite a friend or colleague this week.

Week 11 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

We are back from the March XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence process kick-off week at Bristol Harbour. Summing it up in one word from a participant – WOW! My word is Effortless! The reason for this is found in this week’s theme - Power! I’ll let this most recent class tell you about theirs, as their comments will be scattered throughout this reflection in “quotes”.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quote for the week of March 16^th – March 22^nd: “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” – Aristotle
• “My passions and values are my foundation and understanding; clarifying, writing them down and sharing them with this loving group made me feel like I could move mountains. No matter where you are in your travels on your path toward greatness, Elaine & Tom Brady can enlighten and bring focus to the plan.”
• I returned home and immediately started reading Happy for No Reason by Marci Shimoff. Her first chapter “Happy for No Reason … Really!” sounds like a Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” comedy bit. Given the effortless theme of the class, I know it is going to have a profound effect on me because, thanks to last week’s group, I just modified my #1 passion to “bringing peace and happiness to myself and those I love.” Check out her short video at the above link to Amazon.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Ten Assignment – Take the Week Off!
• I hope you appreciated what you have already accomplished.
• Week Eleven Assignment – Take Back Your Power
• In order to have clarity (what I really, really, really, really…want!), focus (row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream!) and confidence to be Happy for No Reason, we must take our power back.
• “I never realized that I didn’t know who I was! My summit awaits!”
• “The most important message I’ll take away from this week is that you must first truly know yourself before you can begin to lead others.”
• Your power, which will provide your inspiration, is found in your passions, unique ability, personal mission and values. Once discovered and articulated – NO ONE can take them away from you!

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop
• I’d love to send a drop to all those who previously have participated in the XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence process that took the time to support the individuals in this latest class. You are what made it so effortless for them. While no one ever actually knows exactly what to expect, your encouragement and support prior to the week helped everyone be much more open to the possibilities.
• I have one more favor to ask. If you know any of last week’s participants, grab your In Search of Adventure plan and share them with each other. “Absolutely phenomenal week – I thoroughly enjoyed each and every day of the class, and most importantly, enjoyed every moment with our group.” Please be part of their extended group!

To date, we have 150 subscribers. My goal is 1000 by year end. Invite a friend or colleague this week.

Week 10 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

Remember, if you are a subscriber and want to comment, please click on “Wake Up the Passionate Leader” on the top of this e-mail you are reading. If you are on the actual blog, scroll down to the bottom of this week’s post and click on “comments”. This week’s theme is Intention.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quote for the week of March 9^th – March 15^th: “You are the way you are because that’s the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be different, you would be in the process of changing right now.” – Fred Smith
• We are getting ready for the kick-off week for XLR8 YOU!!! Leadership Excellence at Bristol Harbor this week. It is a great time to get in touch with what you want to be different through your passions, writing them down and then sharing them with those who can help you. Are you ready, willing and able?
• A great book to help you is What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith. Upon request, I can send you an Audio-tech book summary transcript.

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Nine Assignment – The Power of Choice
• Be the first to share the two choices you made this week and the impact they had to win a FREE SIMPLE TRUTHS BOOK/DVD of your choice. (Go to the blog and click on the comment icon at the end of this week’s post).
• Week Ten Assignment – Take the Week Off!
• This is the week to appreciate what you have already accomplished.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – A Drop for Your Bucket!!! Send an electronic drop
• While packing for Leadership Week, I came across Joe’s rocks. He came to Leadership week with the intention to get out of his comfort zone in order to learn what he needed to learn. He found three rocks during his morning runs. On the last day, he shared this story. The first rock looked like a baked potato cut in half - kind of the way he felt on the first day - sliced open for all to see. The second one was more fully formed but had several blemishes on it. This is how he felt by mid-week - like he was making progress. The last one was almost a perfectly-formed baked potato. Through all the self reflection, feedback and support from his new-found coaches, he recognized himself and his potential and as importantly, he had a plan of action. I love those rocks - thanks Joe!
• If you don’t want to blow your horn – how about recognizing someone else’s leadership success - big or little – please share your comments.

To date, we have 147 subscribers. My goal is to reach 1,000 by year end. Invite a friend or colleague this week.

Week 9 - XLR8 The Passionate Leader

I’ve answered several questions this week about blogs. If you are a subscriber and want to comment, please click on “Wake Up the Passionate Leader” on the top of this e-mail you are reading. Once on the actual blog, scroll down to the bottom of this week’s post and click on “comments”. This week’s theme is Choice.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year
• My favorite quote for the week of March 2^nd – March 8^th: “You become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.” – James Allen
• A great example of living this was on CBS’s Sunday Morning today. Michele Obama’s brother was being interviewed. After graduating from Princeton, he took a job in finance making six figures. What he learned was: “if you take a job based on the pay, ultimately, you are not going to make enough money to put up with the mess.” He now coaches the Oregon State basketball team - going back to his first love - coaching and teaching.
• I’d recommend watching the video (10 minutes) which also includes Michele’s mother.
• That’s why discovering your inner guidance system: Passions; Unique Ability; Personal Mission & Values are the centerpiece of the Leadership Excellence process!

• The Best Year of Your Life: Get Debbie Ford's Kit
• Week Eight Assignment – Forgive
• How did it go? For me, it frees my energy for more productive uses.

• Week Nine Assignment – The Power of Choice
• Reflect on an area of your life where you’d like to create a different result. For those with your top five passions from The Passion Test, score your passions and use the one with the lowest score. Write down exactly what you’d like to change in this area. Allow yourself to see the choices you have made recently that have worked against this desire or passion.
• Identify two choices you can make this week that will move you closer to the result you desire.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – Sharing Best Practices: Choosing to break down silos.
• I read a good book this week: Silos, Politics and Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni. I think Patrick is a young Ken Blanchard – using fables to convey a message that everyone can identify with. Part of getting everyone on the same page and going in the same direction is developing a thematic goal – “a single qualitative focus that is shared by the entire leadership team – and ultimately the entire organization – and that only applies for a specific time period.”

• While this client wasn’t reading the book, he shared with me what I would describe as the thematic goal for his leadership team – “to create a culture of teamwork through relationship building and dedication to high standards”. The XLR8 Teams!!! process will be an integral part of executing this goal.

Please share your comments and experiences!!! To date, we have 123 subscribers. Invite a friend or colleague this week.

Week 8 - The Passionate Leader

Whether you spend a couple minutes reading for inspiration and insight, spending a few minutes completing The Best Year of Your Life! Exercise, or sharing your own leadership best practices - we thank you! Sign up your whole team and share your thoughts and experiences together every week.

• Zig Ziglar’s Inspiration: 365 Days A Year: Watch the Video @ Inspiration 365
• My favorite quote for the week of February 23^rd – March 1^st: “As I grow older, part of my emotional survival plan must be to actively seek inspiration instead of passively waiting for it to find me.” – Bebe Moore Campbell
• Alright, I have to admit, I had a birthday this week. While I still refuse to join AARP, I have qualified for some time now. This quote has been true for me for many years. I continue to search for new ways to stay inspired including this blog. I feel that it an integral part of achieving my number #1 passion – being at peace with myself and those I love.
• Please share in a comment below how you actively seek inspiration every day!!!

• The Best Year of Your Life
• Week Seven Assignment – Question Your Beliefs
• Did you come across a limiting belief? By exposing it, you have completed the first step in changing it. Use this week’s assignment to transform it.
• Week Eight Assignment – Forgive
• Resentments drain our vital energy. They act like a barrier around our heart - preventing us from receiving all the love we desire - particularly the love of ourselves. The stronger they are, the more power you gain from this act of forgiveness.
• Think about someone you’ve been harboring a grudge against. They probably reinforce a limiting belief you have about yourself. Allow yourself to let it go - to soften your heart and help you forgive.

• Creating a Culture of Leadership Development – Sharing Best Practices:
• In my travels this week, I saw a great XLR8Forward preamble for Challenging the Process. “Challenging the Process is an important step in making something happen with a sense of urgency. We need to make it safe for others to experiment and build confidence in all to provide the way to success.” The stories your 360⁰ raters share with you make it easier for them to make suggestions on how you can do better!
• Please make a “comment” about a great leadership experience you had this week!

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