Leadership Coach India | CEO Coach | CXO Coach | Leadership Coach | Dr. Vandana Sha

Blog – Full Width

  1. Home
  2. Blog – Full Width
Positivity Vanadana Shah
February 27, 2017
by

The Science of Possibility

The Science of Possibility

Positivity Vanadana Shah

” A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success. “ Joyce Brothers

Saima, a 31-year-old professional, is a hard-working employee and was always a bright student in her academics. However, being in professional life for almost 8 years now, she seems quite unhappy with the trajectory of her career graph moving. She feels she is way behind many others who started their careers some 4-5 years back. While many of her friends have reached good levels and earning great, she is struggling to get good position and hike in salary for a year.

Over a few months of trying really hard without any success, she got depressed and just wouldn’t know what to do. This has further led Saima to surround herself with negativity. There was a shift in her behavior, responses to situations. Her rude and indifferent attitude became a reason for some heated arguments in her office to the point that she is not able to work efficiently. It was then her close friend introduced her to an executive coach.

Saima began her coaching engagement with her coach. During this journey, she became self-aware and realized that due to a few negative experiences, she had become someone who had a negative approach towards life, her future, and career that was obstructing her from getting success in life. Though she was hard working she would never keep herself updated of latest trends& tools related to her job. She would never work for honing her skills due to which she was being rejected in several interviews. There was a gap between who she is and who she has become. Her executive coaching helped her to bridge that gap, reconnected her with the authentic being that enabled her to look at possible possibilities in every area of her life.

Contrary to the above scenario, we have seen people who are not very sharp and intelligent but still, they are settled in good positions because they work on themselves. And most importantly, they are very positive people. No matter what happens in life, they don’t let negativity choke their happiness. These people are ready to walk the extra mile for success than to sit and sulk in corner of their rooms. So, it’s not just knowledge but our attitude which defines our journey in life.

There is another story of a professional man, who started off his career as just Sales Executive in a Bank. Though not very qualified, he had great interests in learning about the latest marketing trends and techniques. He would work on his grooming and knowledge from time to time. He had a very positive approach in whatever he did. Even at times when he was given odd jobs, he remained positive and worked with full dedication. After a year of experience in field and customer dealings, he became an expert in cracking good deals. And with time he grew and earned a good reputation in the market. Within a few years of working, he was offered the position of Team Head Sales & Marketing in an International luxury car company with income in 6 digits per month.

In both the above scenarios, Saima and Imaan were hardworking and ambitious but the results of their efforts were different. Saima despite being good in academics was lacking in a positive approach. She got disappointed with little failures which would impact her overall ability to think and act further. She had lost her core essence of being which blocked her horizon of looking at possibilities (way of being positive and an approach towards solutions). On the other hand, Imaan wasn’t well qualified but he had a wiliness to learn, change and remain positive in a diverse situation which helped him achieve success in his every endeavor. Just because he didn’t get influenced by external factors instead he stayed grounded and connected to himself.

The science of possibility works with positivity as it’s often said that nothing is impossible. But possibility comes with positivity and vice versa. Right approach and positivity can help us achieve every goal of our professional as well as personal lives. This is the reason that all students don’t become toppers and every professional doesn’t become CEO of the company.

So if you ever feel stuck in life, seek an executive coach who can help you to watch out your approach. Few of the key attributes like hard work, patience and positivity can change the game in your favor.

healthy cells healthy cultures
February 6, 2017
by

Healthy Cells, Healthy Cultures

Healthy Cells, Healthy Cultures

There is no better wealth than a healthy body and no better joy than the joy of the heart

The above saying stands true to time of any era. A healthy body has been regarded as the biggest and largest wealth one can possess. A healthy body is key to happiness and peace which even money cannot buy. Good health can lead to sound mind which in turn can create healthy atmosphere and culture at home and work.

To get a healthy body we need to have healthy cells who together create healthy tissues which then group to form healthy organs. Healthy organs together form healthy organ systems and healthy organ systems together form healthy body. A healthy body leads to healthy minds which has the ability to create positive surrounding and culture.

A positive mind is able to think positively and will create positive environment around him. Specially needed at our work place, healthy environment makes one productive and motivated towards accomplishment of organizational goals. Healthy office culture gives ample space to an executive to learn, grow and develop into an asset for the company. When there are lots of healthy people in the team and company, just imagine how positively powerful that organization is.

In contrary, now imagine a situation where in a person is unhealthy. Unhealthy person is prone to health issues which impacts his thinking ability. Hence, unhealthy person may not be able to think positively and therefore, may create negative surrounding. When there are lots of unhealthy people, it is for sure that they will definitely create an unhealthy culture. They may become complaining, egoist, unsatisfied, and jealous which impacts ones growth, development and also adversely affect the result of team work. Such organizations face issues in achieving organizational goals.

Recommended : Who Needs an Executive Coach?

Unhealthy Culture Leads To Unhealthy Cells

We just discussed above, how an unhealthy cell can lead to unhealthy culture however, this entire process is also reversible. Even unhealthy cultures can lead to unhealthy cells. Now imagine an office scenario where, a new young employee has just joined. He is full of enthusiasm, motivation and energy. But the department he joined has all mid-aged negative and dissatisfied employees who are filled with frustration, jealousy and anger. Each of them plays foul politics and criticizes each other. Imagine the situation of the new employee now. How will he grow, develop and survive in such unhealthy environment? If he continues to work in this unhealthy culture, he will gradually adopt negative things and will start thinking negatively. Negative Mindset will further lead to unhealthy body and cells.

Measures To Keep The Cell And Culture Healthy

Healthy Communication: One of the most important things one should follow is to have healthy communication within the organization, be it seniors or juniors. Healthy Communication can fill the gaps of all misunderstanding, confusion and make things transparent between individuals.

Being sensitive towards others aspirations and feelings: When a person is able to feel the happiness and pain of others, a lot will get changed within the organization. Each of us when tries to become more sensitive towards others, we are in situation to understand each other better. Hence, we can eliminate confusion, biasedness, and pre-notions. Hence, knowing and being sensitive towards each other can help to grow and develop personally as well as professionally.

Taking Regular Feedback: Every organization should thrive to create an environment where each employee can provide their feedbacks and suggestions in regard to office policies and process. This helps in gaining employees’ confidence and thus, create a healthy culture.

Open to adapt others views: One should not consider his own views and thoughts as superior and right. The other person’s opinion should also be addressed and together a conclusion should be drawn. One should be open to adapt to new ways of thinking.

These measures have proved to be very beneficial for creating healthy cell and culture. Every organization should aim to offer a healthy positive culture for its employees to grow and become efficient.

momentum or intention
January 23, 2017
by

What’s Moving You? Momentum or Intention

What’s Moving You? Momentum or Intention

”The Only Thing You Need to Succeed is – Momentum! When you are successful, everything has a momentum, and then comes a point where you can not define whether you have created the momentum or it’s creating you.

I was a very outgoing girl when in school. As a sports enthusiast, I always wanted to try out all adventurous sports and climb Everest as a mountaineer. But as life went by, I got so engrossed with studies and then a job that I forgot all my dreams that I carried throughout my school days. Gradually, as life passed by, I almost had given up dreams as I got busier with my job responsibilities, family, and social obligations. There came a time when I almost felt liked a programmed robot with all works and had no time for myself.

Sometimes, when I met my few old friends who had accomplished a lot and were living lives that they always wanted, I felt the ache in my heart. I wouldn’t sleep those nights and think about my unfulfilled dreams. I noticed I had been so busy for all these years but never actually accomplished anything. I was moving with the momentum of the life which was motivated by emotions, expectations, family and social obligations, my own inhibitions and time mismanagement.

It was then that I got a coach for myself to help me achieve my long cherished dreams of becoming a mountaineer. My coach helped me to clarify my intentions and the forces that were creating momentum that had kept me away from my dreams. With her help, I was able to have an awareness and make choices and create a momentum to move forward towards my becoming a mountaineer.

Momentum

The literal meaning of Momentum as defined in the dictionary is, “a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force or moment”, or “the strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events.”

Though the definition is in terms of physics which involves mass and motion of a physical object, however, the principal can be applied to the action or movement of an individual /organization even.

The momentum in our lives is created by external and internal forces which exert pressures on lives of an individual or organization. And this makes us get in action mode. These forces include commitments, habits, emotions, routines, beliefs and obligations. Many times, these forces may not be chosen intentionally but then over time, we may adopt them and become so accustomed and surrounded by them that we get carried by the momentum created by these forces. These forces continue to exert pressure and make us work according to them even it may not be in the manner as we want or intend to.

Intention

On the other hand, Intention, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary is “determination to act in a certain way, or what one intends to do or bring about.”

Intention always involves the purpose of one’s action. One may act in a certain way with an intention to reach specific goals.

As mentioned in above scenario, the lady was carried by the momentum of her life. The momentum was caused by her job responsibilities, family commitments, her own habits and routines that she continued irrespective of the point if she was happy or ever intended to do the same. The momentum so got developed surrounded her by the sense of social obligation so, she could fulfill her and family needs, support people emotionally and financially. She got so used to following the same routine and thought the process that people too became so associated with her in same terms that it became insignificant to know whether her engagements were still relevant or not.

This is what happens in the life of an organization too. The same process can be repeated to generate same profit and no difference might have been made in years. No new process, products/services are introduced, no new challenges are set and this makes the organization just going by the momentum of the time and previous results. This scenario could be frustrating for the employees as their growth and development would come to standstill.

From a coach point of view, if this organization is analyzed, he can probably point out the fact that initial commitment to stability, consistency, and profit was so focussed that they overlooked everything and didn’t consider their work was pure momentum. The work was done based on the intentions but the later organization did not realize if the same intentions were still relevant or not. A coach is an important person who can make us realize the intentions which are relevant and the course of momentum which should be followed. An efficient coach can help the organization to maintain good health by pointing if the previous intentions were losing relevance with time and changing demands of the clients. Setting new intentions and working accordingly to create the momentum to achieve new goals can be done with the help of the coach.

Hence, we get to understand that we need to create momentum to achieve our goals rather than letting the momentum of different factors propel us to work. We need to move with intentions to accomplish the goals and not just get carried by the momentum of life, situation taking us along. Thus, momentum, when created intentionally, is very powerful and can help to achieve desired results.

In contrary, if our intentions are not set, any momentum by its nature is hard to stop. We might get propelled by different factors which would consume our time, energy and attention towards things which never interested us and will keep us away from our goals that we intent to achieve.

Self Application

In modern times, most of us are very busy. Yet we do not know what we are doing and where we are going in life. Hence, this causes frustration and dissatisfaction. We ourselves don’t understand who is controlling us and yet we are running and moving in life’s race without meaningful accomplishments.

intention vs expectation
January 9, 2017
by

Intention vs. Expectation

Intention vs. Expectation

I had an important business meeting with a client. The client was to leave for Mumbai after our meeting in Delhi. The night before I too had travelled, so was feeling quite tired and got lazy in getting up for the meeting in morning.

When finally I checked the time it was 9:30 am. A stream of nervousness ran across my body. My meeting was scheduled for 10:30 am and I was to drive 20 kms to reach my office. My intention was to be on time for this important meeting. So, I rushed to get ready and reach office.

Since it was Monday, the traffic was heavy and I reached late for the meeting. It was already 11:30 am and everyone was just staring at me. The client was there before time and had been waiting for me with two cups of coffee already. His train was schedule for 1 pm and he was to leave office by 12pm at any cost to reach railway station.

I felt so terrible and embarrassed to even say anything. My mind was completely blocked and kept complaining about Monday rush, myself etc. Due to fear of losing this important client, I was talking nervously even though the meeting could have gone fairly well in remaining 30 mins with the expertise that I had. But nothing seemed working.

It was then that the client said his train was late by an hour so, I can continue with the presentation without nervousness and worry. Hearing this I was relaxed and my presentation went so well that we got that client to sign the deal. The incident was learning experience to be punctual.

On Contrary, now imagine a situation where in, client’s train was on time and due to nervousness and the meeting would have gone terrible. The deal ruining would have caused frustration and anger and my mind would have been complaining about things instead of acting logically. In this situation, I would not have been able to think appropriately and no learning would have even crossed my mind.

This incident exhibits the issue that comes with frustration and anger. Frustration mobilizes one’s energy and emotion and damages our capability to think logically for finding a solution.

Hence, the difference between intention and expectation seems same but doing something with an expectation or doing something setting an expectation is entirely different. There is a huge difference between the two words – Intention & Expectation.

If we do not expect anything for a deed or action, then even a little achievement in this regard result in infinite happiness or satisfaction.

So we can say, Happiness (H) = Achievement (A) / Expectation (E)

Expectation (s)

The literal meaning of expectation as it appears in dictionary is ‘a strong belief that something will happen or be the case; or a belief that someone will or should achieve something.’

An expectation can meet with success or failure depending whether expectation is realized. Expectation always leaves a scope for argument once it meets reality. When we expect something there arises possibility of how it should/ must have/ have to be and consciously or not a story is created.

Expectation doesn’t define an intention or motivation of a person instead it shows a desire for the outcome. A result of the expectation depend upon several factors – Internal and External, over which we cannot have full control.

There is always uncertainty involved in the actual achievement of results despite our best intentions and efforts. Anticipating result for any action involves lots of anxiety, tension and fear of not achieving the desired result.

There is huge difference between a person living with an expectation and a person living with an intention.
Any action or deed with expectation depends on realization of result with reality.

An Intention

Literally meaning ‘something that we want and plan to do.’ Intention is derived from Latin word ‘intendere’ which means to give consideration, turn to or focus one’s attention, to have a plan, to think, conjecture or purpose.

So, intention simply means a motivation & aim and is not at all linked to outcome or the result of any action / deed. Hence, we can pay full attention to our efforts for the work to complete or the process/journey which leads to result which is not expected.

When an intention is involved behind any work, one is open to receive any outcome and there could be possibility of different results. An intention involves learning. One gets an opportunity to learn, analyse and stay alert for getting better outcome.

An intention doesn’t hold ay fear of lose, failure, hence, one is able to enjoy the process, journey or work more than a person who sets expectations. A mind which is free of fear, control and greed is often righteous and a good result can be obtained.

In short, we can say, intention simply means an impulse which gives structure and direction to creative energy. This energy tends to realize positive outcome unlike expectations.

Case study

Simran with an intention to lose weight started exercising. She was quite hefty and wanted to lose 10 kg and started running. Every day she did brisk walking and running for half an hour. She was expecting to reduce 5 kg in almost 2 months and 10 kg in almost 4 months.

However, after 2 months her weight got down by only 1 kg and she got very disappointed. Not knowing what went wrong she was highly depressed for 2 weeks with the result after so much efforts. This was the time when one of her friends suggested to get a coach who would help her achieve the expected result.

assuming vs understanding
December 26, 2016
by

Assuming vs. Understanding

Assuming vs. Understanding

Introduction

I had recently joined a company as Digital Marketing Head in a Software company and was cabined at ground floor of the building. I would often see a colleague, who sat in basement, was busy over calls. She would often get up from her seat and would walk around in parking area of the office compound talking over her mobile. Initially I didn’t care much but would frequently see her over calls days after days.

Her daily routine took over to my amusement and disgust that she doesn’t work and wastes time over personal calls. Since company’s HR couldn’t introduce me to her on joining as HR had to leave for some immediate official trip, I would always wonder that the girl was taking advantage of lenient policies of the company and HR’s absence in the office.

Few days passed and I settled well with few of my colleagues, sometimes even discussing about the company, boss and the employees. One fine day, I just blurted my thoughts about the girl to the close colleagues. I badmouthed her and blamed she was casual and didn’t seem to be working at all.

As I assumed the colleagues would also show their disgust but to my surprise, everyone was starring me initially and then laughed out aloud. I wondered what made them laugh. Then they told me that the girl was from Sales and that the office had weak mobile network down in the basement so, she would often do callings upstairs. In addition they informed, she has been a loyal employee of the company since last 5 years and has always been top sales performer. That day I felt so embarrassed and was also filled with guilt about my assumptions about an unknown subordinate.

Later, whenever I saw her over calls, I felt so bad about myself for judging and presuming things without knowing complete picture. Instead it would have been much better if I should have asked my close colleagues that why she was often over calls?

The Mindsets of Assuming and Understanding

There is a major difference between assuming and understanding. Making assumption and seeking understanding both require information to determine the cause to know the effect. In both cases, information is processed so that conclusion drawn can further lead to course of action. These actions can be mere reaching to a conclusion or forming an opinion and accordingly an action can be performed. This is why the mindsets for making assumptions and seeking understanding differ.

On several occasions, one would have faced difference from their bosses or subordinates on mere prior assumptions. Bosses generally assume things about their subordinates without knowing the complete picture. If the subordinate is coming late, they are generally considered unpunctual without even knowing what the reason is. May be he has some other responsibilities which he is required to fulfil before coming to office etc. Similarly employees often make assumptions about bosses. In several cases, the subordinates generally fail to realise how difficult it is for a boss to manage entire company, make decisions, deal crisis etc. What subordinate see is boss has temperament or is fussy etc.

Since assumptions doesn’t involve any core analysis, it is the fastest method of processing information. Here the people making assumptions be it the boss or subordinate, just take information and formulate an opinion about any colleague, situation, event etc. The mindset doesn’t focus on proofs, different angles or viewpoints. However, when seeking understanding, the information is analysed, complete picture is taken into consideration without any biasedness or emotional connection. These are the two preconditions for defining assumption and understanding. In rare case, a third precondition may also exist – Luck. You may be right but may eventually get wrong. So, this is a risky proposition. Since its human behaviour to opt easy and shortest way, assumptions are very common scenario in our day to day lifestyle. At work, home, personally or professionally we tend to make assumptions easily rather than seeking complete understanding.

So, how does wrong conclusion as a result of our wrong assumption can affect us? Many of us must have faced serious problems due to wrong assumptions made. An assumption gone wrong can ruin professional relationships with your team mates, seniors or subordinate. It can cause financial disaster too, good opportunities may be lost and a person can experience negativity which impacts his personality as a whole. On personal as well as professional front, wrong conclusion can cause guilt, remorse, low self-confidence etc.

At times assumptions made may not be intentional or would not have been made to cause any malice to anyone. It would have been done unintentionally as the mindset is reinforced to continue making assumptions. We start assuming things about a person as we get to interact or not. And this stand at the place where one can eventually be wrong. However, an intentionally made assumption offers space to watch, realise and rectify the wrong behaviour.

Seeking Understanding

Seeking understanding or looking for wider perspective of everything has been considered a key concept in self-awareness and hence, allows one to grow personally in every aspect. Once you grow personally, you tend to grow professionally too. Seeking understanding before reaching any conclusion is also a sign of maturity and widen the thought process of an individual. This is because when seeking information, you are not just reacting to the information received by formulating it rather apply your intellect in knowing and understanding complete scenario to draw a conclusion. An understanding of your team mate, senior or subordinate helps you earn value and relations. When seeking understanding, it means you are go through a process where entire information is gained, analysed from different perspective hence, involves your effort and your desire to be righteous.

When trying to understand, you need to ask questions, you need to reason out every act and verify your information with facts and logics. You make effort in knowing what needs to be known in the same manner. You are not bothered by mere little information received initially from anyone. You are open to check, verify and change your information so, that no wrong information is taken into consideration for reaching a right conclusion. The one who is ready to make more efforts will be close to having full understanding.

Difference between Understanding and Assuming

There are few key differences between Understanding & Assuming. However, the intention between the two is same that is to reach a conclusion, form opinion or to determine the further course of action. The first major difference is Mindset. Understanding requires Patience, information gathering skill, confidence, good intention, and analytical mindset, whereas, Assuming requires a mindset that is impatient and focussed on reaching conclusion. The basis of success of seeking understanding lies in identifying assumption, obtaining necessary information and verifying. On the other hand, in case of Assuming there is incomplete information, unreasonable & unemotional analysis of information and luck. Ramifications (External factors) in seeking understanding is that it helps in building value in relationships and may result in profitability. However, Assuming can result in Damaging relationships, financial problems and negativity. In addition to external factors, Seeking Understanding also helps in internal growth that is empowering, self-awareness and self-growth. In contrast, Assuming leads to disempowering, lack of awareness, guilt and low self-esteem.

Dare to be A Diamond
October 21, 2016
by

DARE TO BE A DIAMOND – MARK OF A LEADER

Dare To Be A Diamond – Mark Of A Leader

Dare to be A Diamond

We all know that most diamond crystals have eight facets and each of them reflecting light and adding brilliance.

Like diamonds, we as leaders are called to reflect the Light and to shine the way for others. And like these rare, precious stones, we as leaders can radiate brilliance from eight facets: vision, integrity, motivation, learner, listening, prayer, attitude and servant-leadership. These eight facets are not universally upheld by every expert as being the most important qualities in leadership – they are simply eight characteristics that I personally value in a leader.

1. A Great Vision

The very important attribute of leadership coach is vision. The greatest motivational principle in the world is this: people do what people see. People did not follow a dream itself. They follow the leader who has that dream and the ability to communicate it effectively. Vision in the start-up will make a leader, but for that vision to raise and demand a following, the leader must take the charge.

One of the attributes of a diamond is that they have power to break light up into the colours of the rainbow. You have all seen the shining of a diamond in the sun or under a bright light. That shining is eye-catching; it takes your attention. And so it is with us as leaders. When we break up the light of our vision into a colourful rainbow, a desired picture of the future that can be visualized and understood by our teams & employees, then we have begun the work of a leader – to cast vision. Never miscalculate your diamond-like peculiarity to bend light and break it up into a colourful picture.

2. Integrity

Webster defines integrity as “the quality or state of being complete or undivided.” A person with honesty is not guilty of hypocrisy or duplicity. People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear – they are like an open-book.

Diamonds are categorized according to four basic qualities: weight, clarity, color and cut. Clarity is simply the quality of being clear. Clarity in diamonds is decreased by flaws – inclusions, small bubbles, cracks and substances that cloud the diamond. A leader with integrity will welcome values of honesty, commitment, strong & consistent moral codes, treat everyone with respect and build trust.

3. Motivation

A good leader has the natural ability to attract, energize and encourage his teams. There are three kinds of people in this world:

1) Those who don’t know what’s happening
2) Those who watch what’s happening
3) Those who make things happen.

Motivators are the movers and shakers of this world; they make things happen. They aren’t discouraged by conflict – they anticipate it and plan for it. They are always ready to work in any condition; they understand that innovation and new ideas will not necessarily be readily accepted by anyone. In fact, it will be a challenge to pioneer change. But it is their personal enthusiasm and inner strength that will continue to fuel their desire to see change occur, because they have a vision and a dream that they are willing to sacrifice for.

Motivators are not procrastinators and do not put off till tomorrow what can be done today, because they have come to understand that tomorrow might never come.

The energy and enthusiasm of a motivator is used to influence his teams by:

  • Showing them how– When we take on a project, rather than just continuing to talk about it or dream about it, we start planning through the details, overcome obstacles along the way and see the project to completion and we motivate our teams to do the same.
  • Delegating– We encourage others to perform and excel when we delegate responsibility and authority to that person. When we gave our authority in order to share that with someone else, we are saying to them, “I believe in you and I know you can do this”, even though the ugly nub of fear is tightening your stomach and making you afraid that they can’t do it as well as you. Leaders must remember that they are here because someone believed in them and someone gave them an opportunity.
  • Encouraging– Our encouragement for others can be demonstrated in many ways – from our body language and listening ability, to our spoken word and written thanks. It reveals our incurable confidence and faith that our god-self will continue to fine tune us at every stage required.

hatever we do, we need to communicate our genuine enthusiasm for each and every person. We need to affirm who they are, remind them of their strengths and God-given abilities, remind them that we are all still in process and remind them that although failure is necessary, it is an opportunity to begin again.

Just as iron sharpens iron, so the only way that a diamond can be cut is by another diamond. We have to be willing to intensify interpersonal relationships with our potential leaders in order to motivate them to bloom, to grow, to lead. In the process of cutting another diamond, you will most likely be required to reveal your own personal struggle story of failures, of weaknesses and how you are overcoming them. Relate to them your victories and celebrations. It’s a risk on your part, but a potentially strong motivator for others.

Read this: Why you need Executive Coach?

4. Learner

As leaders, one of our greatest privileges, as well as responsibilities, is to train other leaders. If we are truly dedicated to the vision that is giving purpose to our leadership, then we need to be dedicated to the on-going success of that vision by having successors. We multiply our influence as leaders many times over when we mentor potential leaders who share our vision and are committed to seeing it become a reality.

I remember a great example here, Chuck Swindoll said, “The disciples personified Christ’s teachings and they qualified as men who could carry on His work without His needing to be present. They had been made into true disciples.”

In being a learner, I want to encourage you to strive for three things:

1) Develop the ability to see potential in others.
2) Pray for patience and toleration with your people.
3) Develop the desire to assign meaningful work to others.

Tons of rock crushed in order to produce one small diamond. If you go into a mine looking for diamonds or prospective leaders, you will find them. And once you have found them, you need to carry on the work of transforming them from a raw diamond to a fully cut, brilliant diamond.

5.Listening

It is our human nature to typically seek first to be understood. Many people are not listening with the purpose to understand; they are simply being quiet while they formulate their rebuttal or reply.

Also, many of us are shamefaced of clarifying everything through our own set of glasses – we read our own autobiography into other peoples’ lives (“Oh, I know exactly how you feel”, “I went through the very same thing. Let me tell you what happened to me.”) Then there are those who listen because they feel duty-bound to advise.

Very few of us practice sympathetic listening, which is listening with the purpose to understand. It means getting inside another person’s frame of reference. You look at the world the way they see it; you understand how they feel; you listen with more than your ears; you listen with your eyes and your heart as you search for feeling, meaning and behaviour.

A person will always face difficulty as a leader if he/she doesn’t learn to listen to people. Foundational to that is a sincere desire to understand other people.

Diamonds are valuable – they are worth high-priced because they are rare, desirable and highly treasured. Leaders who listen and who pray – leaders who communicate – are valuable to their employees and teams, but they are also valuable to everyone in their personal lives. As we seek first to understand then to be understood. We become very valuable to those we listen to because through our sympathetic listening we communicate acceptance, affirmation and trust.

6. Prayer

We communicate in two dimensions:

  1. The horizontal dimension (with people)
  2. The vertical dimension (with God)

Within that vertical dimension of interacting with God, there is the component of God speaking to us – through His Word, through His Holy Spirit and the element of us speaking to God through prayer.

Oswald Sanders writes this about the leader and prayer: “Most of us find it hard to pray. We do not naturally delight in drawing near to God. We sometimes pay lip service to the delight and power of prayer. We call it indispensable; we know the Scriptures call for it. Yet we often fail to pray.”

Why don’t we pray? I think one of the most frequent excuses I hear is, “I’m too busy to pray!”

I am convinced that the key to learning the art of prayer is the self-love and love for others. I can read every book on prayer, attend prayer conferences, fast and pray, and seek all kinds of accountability, but until I seek the love for myself and others as my teacher, my prayer life will never grow or develop. And as a corporate leader, it is vital to communicate with own god-self – to have focus, clarity of vision and direction, to gain wisdom and insight.

Read this: The Fundamentals of Corporate Training

7. Attitude

One of the greatest advantages that a leader can have is a positive attitude. A benchmark of maturity is taking personal responsibility for our attitudes.

We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it is a incessant choice. Our attitudes do not run on automatic. People with bad attitudes are perpetually blaming everyone or everything else for their problems. It is highly infeasible that a person with a bad attitude can continuously be a success. Once our minds are imprinted with negative thinking, our chances for long-term success fallen.

Every morning when we wake up, we choose what our attitude will be. Having the right attitude will be a big factor in setting the right atmosphere. It will bring about right responses from your teams. A leader’s attitude is “caught” more quickly than his/her actions.

Diamonds have a lasting quality – they endure. That is why they are chosen as stones for wedding rings. They stand the test and stress of everyday living. Their settings or mounts may wear down, but the diamonds themselves endure. They can even be passed down from one generation to another.

8. Servant-Leadership

Combining the terms “leader” and “servant” brings us to a paradoxical term. Some people would regard it as a classic example of the proverbial square peg in a round hole: servant-leader. How can a leader who is driven to see a vision become reality, achieve that by taking on the role of a servant?

Our answer lies in the best biblical example we have of servant leadership – the person of Jesus Christ. Matthew 20:25-28 reads as follows:

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

By Christ’s example of servant leadership, it involves:

  1. The basic requirement to place a high priority on people rather than programs, paperwork or committees. I find it quite ironic that Jesus Himself never set up one committee, never established any bylaws, never started a church and never wrote a book. Yet He changed the world. Jesus placed high value and priority on people. His ministry is basically a story of His involvement in the lives of people over three years. He spoke, He listened and He touched.
  2. Secondly, Jesus had an attitude of giving, of sacrifice and of humility. We are challenged as servant-leaders to have that same attitude of sacrifice and humility.
  3. A willingness to do any task we assign to another. One of the best ways to develop trust and understanding with our employees and to open the lines of communication, is to be willing to get our hands dirty.
  4. A desire to meet the needs of our employees. We need to have a desire to know our employees as individuals and be aware of their needs.
  5. Empathy for others. Caring is being sensitive to another’s needs or hurts or even unspoken longings for love.

As leaders, you are diamonds. You are valuable. You have such great potential to shine, to:

  • Cast vision for your leadership
  • Be a clear and open book
  • Motivate and spur others on as you impact them up close
  • Reproduce worthy leaders as your persevere in discovering and then developing their potential
  • Seek first to understand then to be understood
  • Desire and pursue an intimate relationship with God-self in prayer
  • Have an attitude of joy and endure in your leadership
  • Empathize & Care for others.

    Etiam magna arcu, ullamcorper ut pulvinar et, ornare sit amet ligula. Aliquam vitae bibendum lorem. Cras id dui lectus. Pellentesque nec felis tristique urna lacinia sollicitudin ac ac ex. Maecenas mattis faucibus condimentum. Curabitur imperdiet felis at est posuere bibendum. Sed quis nulla tellus.

    ADDRESS

    63739 street lorem ipsum City, Country

    PHONE

    +12 (0) 345 678 9

    EMAIL

    info@company.com

    PURCHASE