Development Archives - Page 23 of 25

May 19, 2011

Leadership Fundamentals

When things are not going as well as we have planned, we should remember what Jack Welch said in his book, Winning: “Whatever you will accomplish is restricted by your ability to lead others.” We measure our success by the effectiveness of our leadership, which takes hard work and skillful practice of the fundamentals. Exude the right energy; teams take their cue from you. Your team feeds off your energy, so demonstrate confidence, enthusiasm, passion and vision in everything you […]

May 12, 2011

Skills for Success

When I entered the workforce, I sought experiences that would teach me vital skills for the future and build my confidence. Although many of my peers wanted to find jobs at companies that would carry them to retirement, I wanted to rely on myself and become a successful entrepreneur. During the first ten years of my career, I focused on honing the skills that would make me a successful business owner. Ultimately, I learned that I needed to excel at […]

April 26, 2011

Follow-Through: A Building Block of Success

Do what you say you are going to do, when you say you will do it. Following through on your commitments demonstrates integrity, builds credibility and earns people’s trust. Follow-through is one of the building blocks of success. Conversely, you cannot respect or count on those who do not meet their commitments. They are not the ones with whom we will have lasting relationships, nor are they the ones we think of first when there is opportunity. We should make […]

April 19, 2011

Booker T. Washington’s Grace and Determination an Inspiration

April 5 recently marked the birthday of Booker T. Washington, acclaimed African-American educator, author, political leader and civil rights pioneer. On this day, I’m reminded of his inspirational 1901 autobiography, Up From Slavery, in which he recounts his rise from early adversity to success later in life, driven by his commitment to a singular goal: getting an education. Born into slavery in 1856, Washington spent his early years after the Emancipation in poverty working in the salt furnaces and coal […]

February 22, 2011

Habit 7 – Sharpen The Saw – Is All About You

Spring is a season of renewal and growth—and with that season nearly upon us – now is a perfect setting in which to reflect on our progress during the first few months of the New Year: how we’re tracking on our personal and professional goals, commitments and development plans. At this timely moment, we’ve reached Covey’s seventh habit of effectiveness, “Sharpen the Saw.” In the spirit of reflection, it seems fitting to consider this final habit in the context of all […]

February 14, 2011

Habit 6: Synergize

The term “synergy” is often the fodder for jokes, ridiculed as corporate jargon that’s overused and abused in offices everywhere. But I hope you’ll suspend cynicism for a moment and consider the word’s intended meaning, as described in Covey’s sixth habit, “Synergize”: “Synergy works; it’s a correct principle. It is the crowning achievement of all the previous habits. It is effectiveness in an interdependent reality—it is teamwork, team building, the development of unity and creativity with other human beings.” Jargon […]

February 8, 2011

The Tortoise Wins Super Bowl MVP

Aaron Rodgers, the Super Bowl MVP, is an example of the tortoise beating the hare. Rodgers was not recruited by any Division I universities. He had to start his college career at an obscure junior college. Cal was recruiting a tight end at that junior college when they happened to notice Rodgers. They gave a scholarship to both players. But Rodgers was not the reason why they made the recruiting visit. After a stellar career at Cal, experts predicted that […]

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

How many of us have had days where we can’t quite see eye to eye with anyone? A fight with our spouse or kids. A confrontation with the boss or a coworker. A business deal gone sour. In my experience, it often boils down to communication or rather, poor communication. We talk at or over each other. Or if we can’t get a word in edgewise, we bide our time to interject our opinions and tit-for-tat responses. Or in anger […]

February 1, 2011

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

In business and in life, we talk a lot about winning in the context of competition or contests—of beating others to show we’re better at something. Winning means that someone else loses. It’s a “zero sum game.” While a “win-lose” proposition has its time and place, I’ve found that most situations require a different approach. I recall something Coach John Wooden, a great man and influence in my life, once said: “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” Sure, winning […]

December 22, 2010

New Year – New Habits To Keep

New Year‘s is a time to reflect on things we want (or need) to change, from getting fit or quitting smoking to getting a better job or spending more time with family. It’s a time to replace bad habits with good ones and to follow through on them. How many of us, however, have made our resolutions with the best of intentions, only to break them weeks or months later? Perhaps more urgent matters crop up that consume our energies, […]