Maybe..

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1. Maybe.. we were   supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right

one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be  grateful for that gift.    2. Maybe. . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often  times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one  which has been opened for us.    3. Maybe. ..it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it  is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.    4. Maybe. .. the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of  everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.    5. Maybe. . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past;  after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past  mistakes, failures and heartaches.    6. Maybe. .. you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go,  be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all  the things you dream of, and want to do.    7. Maybe. .. there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a  spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your  dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them  more.    8. Maybe.. . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and  swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best  conversation you've ever had.    9. Maybe.. you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel  that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.    10. Maybe..you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it  is simply to leave them alone.    11. Maybe..giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will  love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their  heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.    12. Maybe.. .. happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all  those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can  appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.    13. Maybe. .. you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth;  even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only  a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart  smile.    14. Maybe. . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough  trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to  make you happy    15. Maybe. . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you  were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die,  you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Author: Unknown

Steve Jobs Lost Interview - A must watch for any entreprenuer

John Maxwell - Executive Summary - The Five Levels of Leadership

JOHN MAXWELL

 

Executive Summary - The Five Levels of Leadership

 

Level  1: POSITION

Key Word: RIGHTS

 

People follow you because they have to.

This level is where we all start. The upside of Level 1 is that it is a place where you can shape and define your leadership. The downside of Level 1 is that the people who follow you will give you the least amount of their energy and effort.

 

Level  2: PERMISSION

Key Word: RELATIONSHIPS

 

People begin to follow you because they want to.

 

Characteristics of a Level 2 leader:

• They listen well.

• They observe.

• They are learning.

 

In the process, they have an attitude of servant hood. They love to serve.

 

Level  3: PRODUCTION

Key Word: RESULTS

 

You are starting to help the bottom line of the company. You become effective as a leader because you produce.

 

Characteristics of a Level 3 leader:

• They produce by example.

The greatest motivational principle in the world is that people do what people see.  Too many leaders are like travel agents – they are sending people where they have never been themselves. Instead you want to be a tour guide – you want to take people with you.

 

• They create momentum.

Momentum is the great exaggerator. At Level 3, most problems are solved. Leaders try to create momentum; managers try to solve problems. Leaders create momentum because they know momentum  will solve 80% of their problems. Momentum is a leader's best friend.

 

Level  4: PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT

Characteristics of a Level 4 leader:

• They recruit well.

• They position people well.

• They equip well.

 

Step 1: I do it.

Step 2: I do it and you're with me.

Step 3: You do it and I'm with you.

Step 4: You do it.

Step 5: You do it and someone is with you.

Compounding happens when you equip someone who equips someone else.

 

Level  5: PINNACLE LEVEL

Key Word: RESPECT

 

You've done it so well with so many for so long, people just follow you. They respect you. Ask yourself: What level am I on? You'll discover you're not on the same level with everybody.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

1.       Write down the names of the people you lead. Ask yourself: What level am I on with that person?

 

2.       If you are on Level 1 with someone on your team, determine how you will build a relationship with them by listening, observing, and learning.

 

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http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

Three Management Styles

 Three Management Styles

Posted: 28 Mar 2013 06:45 AM PDT

Guest post from Great Leadership regular contributor Paul Thornton:

Management style greatly affects employees' motivation and capacity to learn. The most effective managers vary their styles depending on the employee's knowledge and skills, the nature of the task, time constraints, and other factors. By so doing, they encourage and inspire employees to do their best at all times.

The basic concepts presented in this article are derived from the "Situational Leadership Theory Model," developed by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey. I was privileged to study with both Professor Hersey and Professor Blanchard at Ohio University. Since then, as a college instructor, coach, consultant, corporate trainer, manager, and facilitator, I have successfully applied the concepts described below with many employees and students in a variety of settings.

The Three Ds

It is helpful to think of management styles according to the three Ds: Directing, Discussing, and Delegating. In essence, the three management styles boil down to this.

· Direct — Tell employees what to do

· Discuss — Ask questions and listen

· Delegate — Empower employees

Using an appropriate management style helps the employee learn, grow, and become more independent. 




Managers need to consider how much experience their employee has had in doing a particular task. Does the employee have the required knowledge and skills to do the task? If the employee has little or no experience a directing style is appropriate. As employees gain experience and know-how, managers need to move to a discussing style and then a delegating style. The goal is to use a management style that fits the needs of the employee relative to the task he or she is assigned.


The Directing Style
Start with the big picture. Provide the context before launching into specifics. State clearly what you expect, how you expect it to be done, andwhen it's due. Wordy and poorly organized directions confuse, overwhelm, and frustrate employees. It's important to provide the right amount of detail. Communication breakdowns occur when important details are omitted. 

· Communication in the directing style is predominantly one-way, from manager to employee. The manager imparts information to the employee via verbal or written instructions. The only feedback the manager looks for is "Do you understand the instructions?"  

· Coaching occurs as the manager tells the employees what they need to do or change. In addition, the manager may demonstrate desired behaviors.   

· Decision making occurs when the manager defines the problem, evaluates options, and makes a decision. Employees learn how to frame problems, evaluate alternatives, and make effective decisions by understanding the process the manager follows. 

· Recognition happens spontaneously when the manager praises employees who follow directions and complete assignments correctly. It can be accomplished on a more formal basis through company reward/recognition programs and feedback provided in private manager-employee conferences.    

The Discussing Style
Prepare questions in advance. Great discussions don't just happen. Ask one question at a time. Be open, curious, and interested in learning what your employees think and why they think that way. 

· Communication in the discussing style is two-way (between manager and employee) or multi-way (among employees, or among employees and manager). The manager asks challenging questions and listens carefully to the employees' comments. Follow-up questions help uncover underlying assumptions, reasoning, and feelings. Employees learn to have opinions and be able to back them up with facts and data.  

· Coaching occurs when the manager asks questions that require employees to evaluate their own performance. "How do you think you did? What could you have done better? The goal is to encourage employees to examine what they did, why they did it, and what they can do to improve.   

· Decision making occurs as the manager and employees collaborate and work together to define problems, identify and evaluate alternative solutions, and make sound decisions. Employees learn as they respond to the manager's questions, offer their own ideas, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option. 

· Recognition may be given to employees who express their ideas clearly and succinctly. In addition, employees should be praised for thoughtful observations, creative ideas, building on the ideas of others, and helping the group reach a logical conclusion.  

In meetings don't allow one or two employees to dominate the discussion. Solicit everyone's ideas and opinions. Promote broad participation by engaging all employees. After a good discussion it's important to get closure on who is going to do what tasks by when.

The Delegating Style
Assign tasks that are challenging, but not overwhelming. Increase the probability of success for each employee by expressing confidence in his or her ability to get the job done.  

· Communication occurs as the manager assigns tasks for employees to tackle independently or in small groups. Employees listen and ask follow-up questions until they fully understand what they need to deliver. Managers need to get periodic updates from employees to insure appropriate progress is being made.

· Coaching is accomplished primarily through self-coaching. Employees gain the most maturity and confidence when they are able to critique their own performance.

· Decision making happens as employees establish goals, implement plans, and work through issues on their own. They make the decisions.     

· Recognition most often takes the form of praise and other rewards given to employees who work well independently, meet deadlines, and produce quality work.  

As employees grow and develop they want the freedom to make their own decisions and solve their own problems. Such independence promotes maturity and increases motivation.

Summary 

Effective managers use a variety of styles. They know how and when to choose the most appropriate one for the specific situation. At the end of each week, managers should assess their own performance with questions like the following: 

· Did I use the most appropriate management style for each task? 
· Am I asking the right questions? 

· What else can I delegate? 

· Who's ready to take on a bigger task?  

· Are employees becoming more capable and independent? 

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http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

The Power of Words

The Power of Words

Think about the tremendous power of words:

Do you keep telling yourself how difficult life is? 

Do you keep telling yourself how low business is?

Do you keep telling yourself how rising expenses and prices are?

Do you keep telling yourself how poor you are? 

Do you keep telling yourself how difficult people & customer are?

Do you keep telling yourself how bad the environment/temperature is?

If you do, you will always see difficulties everywhere. Your subconscious mind will always be busy justifying these thoughts.

Stop and Think and Change your Words.

Change the words and sentences you use, and you will get different results. The way you phrase a sentence will always affect the results, and some results could be quite dramatic.

This applies to words you repeat in your mind, words you say aloud, and words you read.

Different words affect people differently and cause different reactions. This applies to work, business, advertising, relationships, conversations and every sort of communication.

The words you repeat in your mind, in your inner conversations, also have a tremendous power. If you change them, you can change your life, and also how people treat you.

Pay attention to the words you constantly repeat in your mind. Be aware of what is going on in your mind, when you are not too busy, such as while waiting in line, travelling by bus or train, walking, or at any other time you are mentally not busy.

What kind of words do you repeat in your mind?

If you always say:

I am weak

I am poor

I cannot...

This is a problem

Isn't That Precious?

then you will have the same..!

Let's change a few Words...

Alhmdolliha

I am Happy

I am Strong

I am Confident

Yes, I Can

Yes, I Will

This a Challenge

I am getting Better and Better

I can turn around

It is Possible

Let's do it

Ready for Action

Say these words with faith, belief and conviction, not just uttering or shouting them. 

Disappoint your Disappoints with regular Discipline and Practice.

If you will Change, Everything else will Change for you..!!

Best Regards

Shabbar Suterwala

 

http://www.shabbarsuterwala.com
http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

What is Greatness and Becoming a Greater Person

The Secret of Greatness

 

 

What Is Greatness?

 

"The hardest task one can have is to continue to love his fellows despite 

all reasons he should not."

 

"For the one who can achieve this, there is abundant hope.

 

"For those who cannot, there is only sorrow, hatred and despair. 

 

And these are not the things of which greatness, or sanity or happiness 

are made.

 

"A primary trap is to succumb to invitations to hate.

 

"Never use what is done to one as a basis for hatred. 

Never desire revenge.

 

"It requires real strength to love man*. 

And to love him despite all invitations to do otherwise, all provocations and all reasons why one should not.

 

"Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. 

 

To hate alone is the road to disaster. 

To love is the road to strength. 

To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. 

 

And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe." -- L. Ron Hubbard (*Man: mankind; the human race.)

 

Examples

 

1. As soon as you arrive at your family's party, your stomach twists when you see your Aunt Jane. Ever since you were young, Aunt Jane has criticized you. 

 

"Well, managing a shoe store is fine, but I thought you'd be a successful doctor, like your father." 

 

"I was completely surprised to see your daughter's eyes are blue since you and your wife have brown eyes."

 

If you had known Aunt Jane would be at the family gathering, you would have found a good excuse to miss it. 

 

You want to leave, but then she sees you. 

 

"There you are! Have you been avoiding me?"

 

You decide to be a great person and love your Aunt Jane despite all reasons you should not. As you hug her, you notice she is now in her 70's. 

 

You suddenly realize she hasn't criticized you for more than 20 years. 

 

You are surprised to find you actually do love her.

 

 

2. You are driving down the road enjoying some music and some idiot cuts in front of you. 

 

You slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. 

You send him a mental curse and hope he has a rotten life. 

 

You notice you feel rotten. 

You blame the other driver for this feeling and start driving recklessly.

 

But then you think, 

"Hey! I don't want to hate anyone. I'm going to love that guy." 

 

You feel a little understanding for the other driver. 

You think, "He must be late for work" and you wish him well. 

 

Within seconds, you feel better and forget about it. 

You go back to enjoying your music.

 

 

3. A few years ago, you and your friend Peter bought a delivery van. 

 

He used it during the day to make deliveries from his flower shop and you used it at night to deliver newspapers.

 

When going to work one night, you notice the van is missing. 

 

You call Peter who says, "Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you that I sort of rented it to this guy. I mean, uh, well, I sold it because I had to pay off some bills. 

 

I think you owe me some money anyway, so I think we should call it even."

 

You say, 

"I can't believe this! 

You sold our van? 

You really did it this time Peter!" 

You slam down the telephone and vow to never speak to him again. 

You jump in your car and spend all night moving newspapers.

 

You plot revenge in several ways. 

You'll spray paint his windows. 

You'll steal his car. 

You'll spread rumors about him.

 

Every time you think about Peter and the van, you get upset. 

 

Even two years later, you still feel the hatred whenever you see a 

similar van.

 

But then you learn this principle and decide to be a great person. 

 

You decide to love Peter despite all reasons you should not. 

 

After a few days, you decide to call him.

 

Peter says, 

"I'm so glad you called! I'm sorry about the van! 

I've regretted selling it for years now."

 

You say, 

"Don't worry about it. I'm sorry our arrangement failed. Good luck Peter."

 

The van memory stops hurting you. 

People like being around you again. 

You feel great! 

 

 

Five Recommendations for Becoming a Greater Person

 

1. Love everyone around you. People in your family, neighborhood, workplace, everyone. Love them for no reason. Why not?

 

2. Whenever someone tries to get you to hate him or her, refuse to play the game. Instead, generate some love for the person, even if only a small amount.

 

3. Make yourself tougher by loving people, even your enemies. You can certainly love people without letting them control you. In fact, it's easier to face and handle difficult people, if you love them.

 

4. Eliminate revenge as a purpose in your life. 

Who do you want to get even with? 

Change that intention into something positive. 

Wish them well and you'll feel much happier.

 

5. Make yourself happier by loving people. 

Whenever you feel depressed (sorrow) or a loss of hope (despair), find someone to love. 

You don't even need to see or talk to the person, just love him or her. 

 

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http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

Business Innovation.!!

 I I M .Graduate. 

~ AUTORICKSHAW- Business.!! Slice of India

 NAGPUR: A degree from IIM Ahmedabad could have easily landed Nirmal Kumar a job with a fat pay packet at a multinational company. However, Kumar chose to earn Rs45,000 a month, managing a fleet of 10,000 autorickshaws in Gujarat.

Haggling with an autorickshaw driver over fare changed the course of life for this physically challenged, 2008 batch graduate from the country's premier management school. Kumar was in the city on Sunday to speak at the TIECON meet on promoting entrepreneurship.

Kumar comes from a modest background, with the family based in Siwan district of Bihar. His father is employed as a primary schoolteacher. Kumar was overcharged by an auto while coming back to the college from a restaurant. He felt cheated, and the idea for a business came to him.

He entered into a deal with the auto drivers who park outside the IIM campus. He assured them free newspapers and an health-cum-personal insurance cover, for which he spent his own money. In return, they only had to give an undertaking that they would charge proper fares.

The idea clicked, and the next tranche of funding came from some companies in Gujarat. The companies happily agreed since the expenditure also accounted for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, he said. "When I needed more funds, I contacted Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The access was easy, and Modi was keen too. I requested his presence at the inauguration too and he obliged. He allotted funds and designated a senior bureaucrat to ensure we got the money," says Kumar.

With funds, Kumar increased the facilities for drivers, and developed the brand 'G Auto'. The drivers got benefits like subsidized health care and education for their wards, besides the insurance. Today, revenue comes from mixed sources, including government, corporate as well as advertisement.

"The vehicles carry ads, from which a sizeable revenue is generated, and we can break even. We have formed a trust, which pays my salary and also 21 of my colleagues," he said. Kumar is the managing director of the Nirmal Foundation.

"Even now, anyone flouting the rules loses the benefits and membership of G Auto. But we also fight for the drivers if the cops wrongly harass them," he says.

G Autowas voted second in the SMART Mobility Awardsby the University of Michiganon transportation solutions. Recently, the union urban development secretary has written to all the states to emulate the model. Kumar, who also wants to expand, recently met Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit with plans for the national capital.

Use of technology has enabled better monitoring of the vehicles through GPS. The vehicles also have computerized meters, which cannot be tweaked, says Kumar. Like a radio cab, customers can request a G auto from a call centre or through a free mobile phone app.

Kumar's analysis is that a day's income for an autorickshaw driver does not go beyond the minimum wage of Rs250, after all expenses and vehicle maintenance is taken into account. Nirmal Foundation's system ensures they get more trips with the help of the call centre facility. The volumes compensate for the low margins, he said.

On whether he regrets not having chosen the beaten path, Kumar says, "Today, my batch mates want to emulate me, but it is not the other way round."

 

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Tips to manage - Losing Temper on others

When John D Rockefeller ran the Standard Oil Company one of his senior executives made a mistake that cost over $2 million.

The other executives thought Rockefeller would come down heavy on him and probably fire him. But he didn't. Before he called the man in, he sat down, took a notepad and wrote across the top of it: 'Points in favour of this man'. Then he listed the man's strengths, including how he'd once helped the company make the right decision and earn them millions of dollars.

One of the senior executives who witnessed it later said, 'Whenever I am tempted to rip into someone, I force myself to sit down and compile a list of the good qualities they have. By the time I have finished, I have the right perspective. And best of all, my anger is under control. I can't tell you how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of life's costliest mistakes-losing my temper. I recommend it to anyone who must deal with people.

So before you jump to conclusions about someone, stop and ask God for wisdom, then sit down and make a list of their best qualities. If you do you may come to a different conclusion. One thing is for sure, you'll approach them with the right attitude and you won't say things you'll later regret.

 

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15 things to "Give up..."

This is indeed a brilliant article and needs to be read again and again ...

Here is a list of 15 things, which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and you'll feel much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering and instead of letting them all go and allowing ourselves to be stress-free and happy, we cling on to them.

Well, not anymore. Starting today, we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go!

1. Give up your need to always be right. 

There are so many of us who can't stand the idea of being wrong wanting to always be right even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain for us and for others. It's just not worth it. Whenever you feel the 'urgent' need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question from Dr. Wayne Dyer: 'Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?' What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control. 

Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, co-workers, or just strangers you meet on the street just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.

'By letting it go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.' Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame. 

Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don't have, for what you feel or don't feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk. 

Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don't believe everything that your mind is telling you especially if it's negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.

'The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.' Eckhart Tolle

5. Give up your limiting beliefs about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. 

From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!

'A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind.' Elly Roselle

 Minimize Your Fear

The Wooden Bowl

The Tao of Forgiveness

The Falcon

A HERO who deserves all respect

6. Give up complaining. 

Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things people, situations and events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It's not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism. 

Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others. 

Stop trying so hard to be something that you're not just to make others like you. It doesn't work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you're not, the moment you take of all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change. 

Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change don't resist it.

'Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.' Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels. 

Stop labeling the things, people or events that you don't understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open.The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.' 

11. Give up on your fears. 

Fear is just an illusion, it doesn't exist you created it. It's all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.

'The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.' Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses. 

A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck and lie to ourselves, using all kind of excuses excuses that 99.9% of the time, are not even real.

13. Give up the past. 

I know, I know. This one's hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening. But, you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for the past that you are now dreaming about was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all, life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment. 

This is a concept that, for most of us, is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too (it still is), but it's not impossible. You get better and better at it with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things (and that doesn't mean you give up your love for them because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another. Attachment comes from a place of fear, while love well, real love is pure, kind, and selfless; where there is love there can't be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot co-exist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.

15. Give up living your life to other people's expectations. 

Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them; they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them; to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people's expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need and eventually, they forget about themselves. You have one life this one right now you must live it, own it, and especially don't let other people's opinions distract you from your path.

Source: Unknown

 

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http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

The Inspirational Leadership Model

Eight Principles of Inspirational Leadership

by David C. Forman & Friso van der Oord | Talent Management

Companies from all over the world are thinking differently about values, culture, trust, transparency, meaningful connections and collaboration. These characteristics are different from command and control organizations where power is the province of the few and information is tightly controlled. This traditional ethic has led to uneven performance, escalating self-interest, growing dissatisfaction with companies, missed opportunities and even scandal, but talent leaders can help companies to envision a different future by enabling a new brand of leadership.

Living examples of this new future are led by people who have a different view of what leadership means and can do. They view it as a behavior, not a title. It is more about relationships and connections than power and authority. They don't coerce or threaten to achieve results, they inspire others to act. They pursue significance beyond the immediate and short-term. They demonstrate "humbition" - a humble personal perspective accompanied by a fierce ambition for the organization's success. They help to create a culture bigger than themselves so the organization endures.

Researchers John Zenger and Joseph Folkman uncovered similar findings in their multi-year research detailed in their book The Extraordinary Leader. They examined more than 200,000 surveys for 20,000 leaders with correlated company performance data. The most important factors that distinguish the best from the worst leaders are: inspire others to high levels of effort and performance and energizes people to achieve exceptional success.

The Inspirational Leadership Model

While there is widespread agreement that new approaches are needed, and that "inspiration" is a vital ingredient, according to the 2011 HOW Report from advisory services firm LRN Corp., only 4 percent of organizations inspire their employees. It is valuable to define inspirational leadership not in terms of traditional leadership competencies, but principles that provide a broad framework to guide future behavior for the leader and the organization.

There are eight principles on inspirational leadership that a leader demonstrates that become infused into the culture. They can be divided into business and relationship clusters to reflect the fact that inspirational leadership is about both relationships and positive organizational and business results.

1. Rethink and reframe.

Decades ago the priority was to keep the assembly line working and not make changes. Today, in the innovation economy businesses have to stay competitive, out-think the competition and fight complacency. Leaders need the courage to reframe, rethink and outmaneuver others who attempt similar actions.

Vineet Nayar, CEO of HCL Technologies, used the phrase "mirror mirror" to enable employees to see the company's actual position in the marketplace. While HCL was doing fine according to some measures, it was mired in a comfortable mediocrity. Through many meetings, Nayar listened, led with questions - not his own answers - and recognized that not everyone would be accepting. By challenging convention and living the values he was espousing, Nayar established a new level of trust. The results have been significant. From a mid-level, regional player in IT services, HCL is now a global leader in the industry and considered to be among the best managed companies in Asia.

2. Pursue significance.

People want to believe in what they do. It is no longer enough to go to work just for a paycheck. People want a higher calling. Younger generations, in particular, are demanding more from work and life.

The pursuit of significance, meaning and purpose is a serious focus for organizations. It is not a "nice to do" or the corporate social responsibility program of the day; it is a central mission, and one that many top leaders and companies support. Jeffrey Immelt of GE once said that "To be a great corporation today, first you have to be a good one." Professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers espouses the four P's: profit, people, principles and planet. Harvard professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter gave a name to organizations that prize purpose: vanguard companies.

"In vanguard companies, belief in the purpose and embrace of the values generate self-guidance, self-policing and peer responsibility for keeping one another aligned with the core set of principles," Kanter said. "This type of human control system does not work perfectly by itself, but it certainly reduces the need for rules, and this helps people feel autonomous. Rather than feeling forced into conformity, employees feel that they are willful actors making their own choices based on principles they can support."

3. Live, share and scale the right values.

Leadership is about shaping, living and spreading the right values that drive the organization to achieve exceptional results. These values provide the spirit, soul and continuity of the enterprise. Organizations need to stand for something, not just exist for their own ends, and leaders need to help shape these values.

One of the first things that former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano did when he took the job was to enlist the company's employees in rethinking what IBM stands for today. A collaborative tool was used to reach all employees globally, and the three values that emerged were dedication to every client's success, innovation that matters for our company and the world, and trust and personal responsibility in all relationships. More than 140,000 employees participated in this discussion.

"It wouldn't do to create values from the top, like [former IBM Chairman and CEO Thomas] Watson did; today people are too sophisticated, global and cynical. We want people to connect to the entity in a way that's relevant to them. Then they have pride in the entity's success and will do what is important to IBM," Palmisano said.

4. Lead through culture.

Culture is a core part of the business infrastructure that has been ignored or underestimated for decades because it was thought to be too big or amorphous to change.

Inspirational leaders understand that culture is the organization's operating system, and it should be intentionally shaped, developed and enhanced. An organization's culture is its enduring asset, significant beyond a single leader's impact; and values-based cultures lead to stronger business results.

5. Earn and extend trust.

A trusted person is open, honest and delivers results.

The conventional wisdom is that trust, like culture, just occurs and it is too soft to measure or change. However, trust can be measured, monitored, developed and improved. And it needs to be improved - according to the 2011 HOW Report, only 9 percent of employees work in high-trust organizations.

6. Embrace transparency.

Transparency means "to shine light through," and in business the term means decisions are accessible to all people; information is not needlessly withheld; people are honest, direct and clear about their motives; apologies are offered when mistakes are made; and information is shared with relevant stakeholders.

Transparency is a condition of modern life that cannot be denied. Google is now a verb. The sooner leaders and organizations accept the almost universal availability of information, the better. Especially as younger workers enter the workplace, transparency is an established ethic, and anything else is distrusted.

7. Connect with others.

The inspirational leader connects with others in meaningful and unique ways. Establishing the tie between the inspirational leader and employees is important. This connection must be tangible, whether it is virtual or in person. It could be seeing former McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner get his hamburger every day or having a meeting with Nayar while he explains HCL's value zones. Communities form when people are connected.

8. Collaborate across boundaries.

The next level of connectedness is collaboration. Inspirational leaders do not just connect, they work together to accomplish ends across geographic and organizational boundaries. Collaboration can take many forms, including working together on joint projects, sharing knowledge and experience, and enabling the flow of information and talent across the enterprise.

One of the toughest issues leaders face is when organizations retreat into turf wars, silos and protective behavior. Traditional rewards, governance and rules reinforce this type of dysfunctional behavior. Inspirational leaders need to pierce these mindsets and demonstrate how collaboration can lead to greater, not less success when rooted in purpose and values.

Manufacturer W.L. Gore & Associates has structured its entire company around the premise that communities always outperform bureaucracies. It has eschewed economies of scale for an economy of ideas, and work units are rarely larger than 150 to 200 people. Connection and collaboration occur almost organically when these people are linked by common purpose and principles.

These eight principles of inspirational leadership interact and build on each other. A leader who is trusted and collaborates across the enterprise is more impactful than a leader doing just one or the other. When leaders are capable and experienced in all eight principles, they become inspirational leaders who can leverage, propel and inspire the organization to greater heights in a world that is demanding new approaches to leadership and more responsible and ethical organizations.

[About the Authors: David C. Forman is chief learning officer for the Human Capital Institute. Friso van der Oord is global head of research for the Corporate Executive Board.]

 

http://www.shabbarsuterwala.com
http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

Delegate the Right Job to the Right Person

There was a wrestler and he is so powerful that he can crush anybody in minutes. After a 
hectic tournament, he returned home and was about to take rest. He found a little mouse 
playing in his bed room and tried to catch it.


The smart mouse escaped from all his efforts and still was playing there. He lost his sleep 
and his wife told him to assign a cat to catch that mouse.
He went out and brought one mighty cat. The cat was very famous for doing excellent tricks and 
won many prizes. He brought the cat from his owner for a day.


After reaching his bed room, he was curious to watch that little mouse is killed. The cat 
walked around and the mouse came out. The cat tried to catch it but unfortunately it failed 
from all it's attempt to catch that little mouse. After few minutes, the mouse scared the cat 
and the cat ran away.


As this wrestler was very famous, he went to his king's palace and met the mighty cat in the 
palace. Asked the cat to help him. The King's cat was very clever and powerful. The wrestler 
brought the king's cat to his home and awaiting to see the little mouse is killed.


After few minutes, the King's cat was also failed in all it's attempts to catch the mouse and 
was tired. He carried the cat to the palace and asked the cat on it's way to the palace to 
help him with an idea to kill the mouse.


The King's cat quietly answered him.. "Dear Wrestler, to catch that little mouse, you don't 
need a tricky cat or a wise cat like me. I am clever but I am not good at catching a mouse. As 
I live in palace, I never knew hunger and never tried so hard to catch a little meal. Like me, 
the tricky cat also never starved for food. I suggest you to take a street cat to your home".


The wrestler somehow wanted to remove the troublesome mouse from his bed room and finally took 
a street cat to his home. The street cat was looking very simple and the wrestler was not 
confident on that cat.


Once they entered the home, the cat rushed from the hands of the wrestler and ran fast into 
his bed room and was casually walking out of his home with that little mouse on it's mouth. 
Everything was over in few seconds.


The wrestler was astonished and asked the street cat how he caught that mouse in seconds. The 
cat replayed, "I don't know sir. I am just a simple street cat" and walked away..

 

http://www.shabbarsuterwala.com
http://leaders-workshop.blogspot.com

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