Archive for the ‘Vision’ Category

It’s AQ, Not IQ!

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

Say it’s not so! Another series of national challenges and everyone is scratching their heads about who is in charge. Whether or not it is the Toyota recall or the tragic Gulf Coast oil spill, too many leaders seem to be avoiding responsibility.

Things fall apart when leaders shy from opportunities to show their AQ, accountability quotient. Quite simply, this means having the foresight to step up to the plate during favorable times and similarly during crisis situations.

But what happens when leaders continue to just point fingers at each other?

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Do Something!

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

Many of us talk about doing big things. We say we will clean out the garage. We resolve to losing ten pounds (again). We commit to writing a book. But, the only way to make a big splash is to stop talking about it and just do it!

It seems to me that most of us have a fear of taking the first step. Possibly those who have innate leadership abilities might be more inclined to take an initial step to do something, to get a project or initiative done.
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GPS or Bust!

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

Recently I’ve noticed how much I rely on my global positioning system (GPS). It’s not that I don’t like to use maps or have a stack of Mapquest.com papers to fumble through. But, for me, it’s more convenient to use a more reliable system. I want something that will be correct almost 99 percent of the time. In that same way, I use a central positioning system to guide my decision-making every step of the way.

To some people, putting strategic plans in motion and reviewing goals is played out. But, I can never have too many plans set forth to keep me focused and on the right track. Taking the time to review the proposed action, next steps, and implementation keeps me focused. It just makes good sense. Can you imagine starting on a journey without any idea about which way to go? Will you embark on a hike without a sense of where the trail is expected to end? (more…)

Political Paralysis

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

The retirement of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has already triggered political battles on Capitol Hill where confirmation hearings will occur to determine his replacement. While the debates are not unexpected, how can lawmakers demonstrate that they will be amicable with the vetting of any candidate in the confirmation process?

After months of debate about the health care reform issue, the public is exhausted from the back and forth bickering. Attempts to stay focused on the policy issues with seemingly silenced in exchange for heated debates and side-swipes about ideology rather than the merits of the issues. In fact, the American people are most certainly looking for leaders to provide a thoughtful and civil discourse.
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Leadership and Civility

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

In the midst of recent health care reform legislative in Washington, DC, some of the highest levels of political leadership have shown some outrageous and unacceptable behavior. It is one thing to disagree about the issues but quite another to become disagreeable. In fact, F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that “The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

Acts of vandalism and condemnation in the midst of disagreement about the differing opinions on the health care measure have resulted. There have been charges and counter-charges to offenses. There have been insensitive remarks and racial epithets hurled back and forth across the aisle. Social etiquette has completely run amuck! Are you kidding me? (more…)