As I am planning for 2014, I find myself stuck – wallowing in a lack of clarity about big picture questions, like where I want to be in 5 years and where to spend my time and energy in the coming year to get there. If you have times when awaiting the perfect plan is really a procrastination ploy – you’ll enjoy this post.
A dear friend, Marcia Nellans, sent me a little two minute clip filmed in Glasgow, called The Power of Words. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Spend a moment and tell me the thoughts it provokes for you.
I wish each of you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2014 – in all the unique ways that matter to you!
In our Evergreen Leadership Process we have a way to continually stay fresh and healthy. The new year is a great time to build this practice into your life – and will yield better results than the tradition of making resolutions. Take a look…
Christmas – Solstice – Hanukah – Kwanza – Boxing Day – New Year’s
No matter you faith or holiday tradition, December and early January are a time of revelry and feasting around the globe, as well as a time of reflection, peace and generosity. As a person who looks more for what we have in common than what divides us, I see five themes that are entwined around these different celebrations. And each is a precious gift.
I tell students in my entrepreneurship courses at Purdue that leaders read. However, the nature of the entrepreneurial process makes it tough to recommend good reads. Those searching for a good idea need something different than those who have found one and are in high growth. Meanwhile, some have built a company only to find themselves stuck with an “ugly baby”. As such, I’ll clearly identify by stage-of-the-entrepreneurial-process what the book is best suited for.
And after reading my list I”ll be curious to know – what books guide and inspire you?
In Leadership is an Art, Max DePree tells us that “buying books is easy; owning them is not.” He goes on to explain that, “Good readers take possession of what they are learning by underlining and commenting and questioning. In this manner they ‘finish’ what they read.” He ends his introduction by saying: “You can read this book quickly; but I hope you cannot finish it quickly. It will be worth a lot more to you if you finish it, if you have truly made it your own book.”
DePree also shares that leadership is NOT learned by reading, alone – and I fully concur. But I also know that leaders who are thoughtful and open themselves to new ideas WHILE they get their hands dirty leading, grow into better and better leaders. My mantra is that LEADERS READ.
My list of top ten comes with a disclaimer – these are NOT for learning to manage or supervise. They are in my area of specialty: transformational leadership.
We are all in throes of massive change – and the reality is that the pace and magnitude of change we are facing is only going to amplify. So having a basic grasp of how change works in organizations is important for us all. Warning: This list will not be for the faint of heart, so I’ll rate it on digestibility. Some will be suitable for all levels, and others for those who like to take a deep dive. And I am always looking for more here – so I’ll look forward to the books you recommend on this topic.
I often get asked what books I recommend for certain topics; so in this series, I’ll share my top 10 recommendations for books on: Organizational Change, Self Development, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship. I’ve culled through hundreds of books and selected those that I refer to over and over and over again. These are the ones that are dog-eared, stuffed with notes and Post-its.
My hope is that you’ll share the titles of the books that inspire and inform you… as it is not too late to put then on my wish list for Santa.
In almost all instances, success precedes promotion. And for most of us, we say yes because we feel, at some level, confident in our ability to tackle the new role in a proficient manner. And then we land the new job, take on the additional responsibility, strike out into new territory. And all that we knew in our last job is suddenly not enough.
As leaders are faced with this reality, they have two basic choices…
Perhaps not hate – but dislike strongly. I think the ideas that are perpetuated around the concept of “work-life balance” are hurtful rather than helpful. I think this illusion of balance creates angst rather than acuity. It perpetrates unrealistic, unhealthy, and unattainable thinking about how we live our lives.
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