Shera R. Sever: Awakening Leaders™

Why do some projects falls short, while others soar to great success?  Why are some business relationships tainted with conflict, while others are smooth, fun, easy, and profitable?

According to Stephen N.B. Covey- it’s all about TRUST.

In his most recent book, The Speed of Trust, Covey builds a strong case for TRUST as the number one leadership competency in today’s organizations and positions TRUST as a key economic driver in the new economy.

When you choose to do business with someone, what do you base your decision on? Most likely it’s that gut feeling- your intuition, that says YES.  I trust this person.

Trust is about (1) credibility (who you are), (2) character (your behavior). True character is doing the right thing when no one is looking, and (3) competence: skills, knowledge, ability to produce results.

Building high trust requires:

• Talking straight
• Showing respect
• Keeping Commitments- Do What you Say!  Walk Your Talk!
• Having an open, transparent agenda (not a personal (WIIFM) what’s in it for me, agenda),
• Clear communication that clarifies goals and expectations.
• Motive and intent of care and service- this builds loyal customers, repeat clients, referrals and a motivated team!

In high trust environments, communicate is clear, processes are smooth, flexible, and fast; change is natural, results are extraordinary.

Seems pretty simple and straightforward. So why is it so difficult for some to build trust and credibility? Normally, it’s because one is not clear on their values and what they stand for, and thus out of alignment with their personal integrity.

So, how credible are you?

Here is a short assessment that you  can take on line, to determine your trust score (how you see/trust yourself)  and credibility score (how others see/trust you)

What was my trust score you may wonder?  88%.

How do I evaluate this?  (1)  Space to improve and grow, (2) make wrongs, right with sincere apologies and changed behaviors. Next step is to send this out to others to see how they see me. I’ll be doing this in the  September issue of Leading Visions to Action. I’m excited and looking forward to the dialogs this will create!

Let’s all give it a try and create more TRUST in the world!!

For more information go to:

Speed of Trust and Who Trusts You

In 2010, anything you desire strongly will manifest quickly.

We have a chance to reorient ourselves, bring our wishes into manifestation and truly assert what we want to be. We are literally dreaming our new realities into being.

The more creative we are in dealing with what has held us back in the old consciousness, the more healing will take place within ourselves and as a result in the world around us. Continue focusing on your highest truth and reinventing your lives.

There is a quickening and a deepening of our life directions. We are anchoring our dreams into manifestation and becoming more grounded in our own light. This is a time of great reward for those of us who have done our homework.

I have been a member of the Center for Creative Leadership community for over 10 years. With their permission, I am reposting a recent article by David Hurst from the CCL Leading Effectively e-Newsletter.

The recession isn’t over and, even if it is, the recovery won’t be pretty.

That’s the general consensus, so even if you are starting to breathe easy, you could benefit from some fresh thinking about how to survive and succeed in tough times.

If you’ve managed not to panic, you’ve already taken David Hurst‘s first lesson on surviving economic crisis. Hurst, a writer and consultant who spent 25 years in the corporate world, shared his ideas with the CCL community earlier this year. His thoughts for finding opportunity in adversity include:

It’s for real. A sense of urgency is the most important ingredient for personal and organizational change — now we’ve got it!

Fear can be useful. The relationship between reason and emotion is like that between a jockey and a powerful horse. Fear can be harnessed if it can be focused on coordinated action.

The unthinkable is possible. In times like these, you can do things that were unthinkable before because people are listening and conventional wisdom no longer supplies the answers.

Don’t look for stability. There is no choice between stability and change: It’s change on your scale and timetable versus change on someone else’s schedule.

Don’t rely on current success. The seeds of destruction are in the fruits of success: Large scale and homogeneity lead to a lack of resilience. Be small and mobile for quick experimentation and rapid prototyping where feedback is specific and fast.

Seek out edges and open patches. Change takes place on the edges of systems and in open patches where variety and diversity can flourish. Look for opportunities on disturbed ground, such as in turbulent markets where information is poor.

Control and release. The management/leadership challenge during a recession is to execute a simultaneous centralization of everything to do with cash and spending, while decentralizing responsibility for focused innovation and learning.

Say “no” to turf protectors. If they can’t play on the team, then they can’t stay on the team.Understand what’s going on.

A storyteller is essential to every team: We need narratives to make sense of what’s happening.

Learn more about Hurst and his Seven Pointers to Finding Opportunity in Adversity at www.davidkhurst.com.

I recently introduced Jim Collins’ Leadership Diagnostic tool in a Leadership Seminar for Non-Profit Executives. The participants response was very positive and the results were stellar for designing new organizational development plans and leadership strategies.

Whether you’re leading a community group, social profit, or a senior management team, Jim Collins has created a beautiful leadership diagnostic for a no-nonsense, honest evaluation of your leadership skills and strategies.

His diagnostic is based on 5 Levels of Executive Leadership.

What do Level 5 leaders do differently?

Ask First Who. . .Then What? (Once you have the right people in place, then figure out the right path)

Confront the Brutal Facts (Create a climate where truth can be heard- lead with questions, not answers-engage in dialog)

Utilize the Hedgehog Concept (Understand what your organization can be best at and then Do It!

Create a Culture of Discipline (Disciplined People, Disciplined Thought, Disciplined Action)

Technology Acceleration (Application of carefully selected technology- thoughtless reliance on technology is a liability, not an asset).

For more information, click here and download the Good to Great diagnostic tool. If you are looking for leadership training within your organization, contact me to discuss an initial needs assessment.

An article this past weekend in the NY Times referred to a new phenomena in todays’ economy, what Mark V. Cannice, Executive Director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of San Francisco calls “Forced Entrepreneurship.”

According to the article, the motivation for these new “forced” entrepreneurs (mostly laid off GenY job seekers)  is to produce quick revenue streams, rather than millions of dollars over the long term.  Jerome S. Engel, Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Berkeley Haas School of Business, most of these “forced entrepreneurs” are focusing on serving immediate needs for individuals and businesses.

“Forced Entrepreneurship” . . . maybe, or . . ?

What if this whole economic shift is yet another opportunity for us (personally and collectively) to awaken to our purpose?  What would that look that?  How would it FEEL to be living in purpose with our work while making the contributions and leaving the legacy that we so desire to offer to our communities and the world.

Is the “job” obsolete?

Imagine starting a business, not with “forced” entrepreneurship, but with deliberate intention- a choice that is in alignment with our values, priorities, gifts, and passions. What if we declared “the job is obsolete?” Plenty of other laid-off workers across the country are doing just that- burned out by a merciless job market- they are building business plans instead of sending out résumés. For these people, recession has become the mother of innovation and reinvention.

Reinvent Yourself!

Whether you are looking for a  personal career branding plan (including social media marketing tools)   or ready to lay the foundation for that long-held dream  enterprise (even part-time),

NOW IS THE TIME!

Contact me for a complimentary consultation (through April 10).

Stay tuned for my NEW!

” INNOVATION & REINVENTION“

6-week coaching program starting in April.

THE FUTURE IS NOW!

I think this recession is a phenomena much more exciting than an economic downturn-

It feels more like a planetary upswing, and right now we are on quite a ride!

It’s a collective transformation and a huge opportunity for all of us to not only live more authentically and in purpose, but to live more simply with less consumerism, less waste, and much more attention to the health and wellness of each other and the planet.

Compassion in Action. Intentional Acts of Kindness.

There is an increasing shared consciousness  that we really are all in this together.

By letting go of the cultural influences of “entitlement” and the illusions of what “security” is,

we ‘re growing up!

Would love to hear your comments- include your website.

Last night I felt it, and I am sure you did, too!

As Michael Moore writes in his post today, “we have experienced a stunning, whopping, landslide of HOPE in a time of deep despair.”

One my mentors, James Kouzes, laid out a seemingly simple, yet powerful leadership model and evaluation tool for personal and organizational leadership in his 2002 best-seller, The Leadership Challenge.

After eight (8) long, painful years, America (the USA), has finally elected a leader that:

• Models the Way
• Inspires a Shared Vision
• Challenges the Process
• Enables Others to Act
• Encourages the Heart

We have seen that anything is possible with focused intention, commitment, and ACTION. The world has been longing for a leader like Obama.

In Hebrew, “Obama” means Lightening. May he electrify and purify the past by co-creating and helping us all rebuild a better future. Let’s support this transition by awakening our own personal leadership practices.

We are all the messengers of change!

I am working on the development of a 16 -week on-line High Performance Human Resources Management course for one of my clients.

Initially, a two- day seminar which I developed in 2007 for the CARAT Executive Leadership Institute, this course emphasizes the synergistic systems inherent in  talent management, retention, learning, and overall organizational effectiveness and growth.

According to the “2008 Ethics and Compliance Risk Management Practices Report, one-quarter of organizations have a desire to engage employees in learning, but are challenged to put their corporate values and integrity into action.

One of the key (and often times) most challenging strategies in birthing a learning culture in an organization is to discard the old paradigm of organizational “silos”.

Learning is not a one-time event. A true learning culture is based on an organization’s mission and core values where learning (human capital development) is transparently woven into all roles, functions, divisions and regions of an organization.

Understanding that Human Capital (Workforce) Development is an organization’s greatest asset is critical. Like any transformation, evolving into a Values-Based Learning Culture does not happen overnight, but rather requires strategic, thorough assessment of leaders attitudes, management approach, and current learning curricula.

Read more in this months’ issue of Chief Learning Officer.

Caban by RubyLee

After a long heat wave in the Bay, the cooler temperatures and hint of autumn is a welcome change.  I had planned to leave on Sept. 3 to visit  a friend on the island of Mallorca for a month. I used to live in Spain, and the Balearic Islands is one of my favorite places on the planet. I had wanted to revisit these enchanting islands, get re-inspired and  write, experiment with telecommuting from the other side of the world, brush up on my Spanish, and feel once again the passion, pleasure and warmth of the Mediterranean. I truly feel the roots of my soul in that great body of ancient mysteries.

A rapid series of unforseeable events took place, both in Mallorca and right here in my own home, forcing me to reconsider (postpone) my trip and stay put right here.  It was a difficult shift. There was a lot of resistance in letting go of that plan.

And now, it feels right to be here, taking care of unfinished business and patching up the holes in my own package.

FINDING OUR WAY BACK HOME

I think that’s what we are all doing collectively in these times: refining our vision,defining what’s really important,identifying our power partners and collaborators,strengthening our focus, taking a stand, and finding our way back home amidst so much uncertainty.

Autumn is a wonderful time for clearing, healing, forgiving ourselves and others, building and solidifying our foundations. This season feels particularly intense with the upcoming election. Please help at least 5-10 others register to vote.

I am so grateful to be part of an incredible network of visionaries, entreprenuers, educators, healers, media and technology leaders.  My intention is to fortify these bonds. My desire is deep to be a creative container for collaborative leadership, action, and change. I am so ready to play a MUCH, BIGGER GAME!  How about you?

note on image: Caban by RubyLee

Even if you’re sitting on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” -Will Rogers

Like many clients I have worked with, I am a Personality Type Seven in the Enneagram System meaning, I like to keep my options open. In Northern California, some call this “going with the flow”, and may use this strategy as their chosen methodology for postponing decision-making and commitments.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am all for being in the flow. After all, that’s where magic happens. There is a great awareness that arises in this “Being with What Is”- or as Gil Fronsdal calls it, the Practice of “Not-Knowing”. Socrates said, “The realization of not knowing is the beginning of wisdom.” Practicing being comfortable with the unknown, yet trusting in an inherent wisdom by keeping the channel open is what Martha Graham coined, “The Blessed Unrest”.

I have spent many months in this “Blessed Unrest, practicing the “Not-Knowing” inquiry. I’ve learned to befriend radical uncertainty. When we practice being comfortable with the unknown, a deep inner knowing does emerge of a what is possible. This or something better! We don’t need to have all the answers to take action towards a desired outcome.

With the recent explosion of The Secret & The Law of Attraction, we have all been reminded that desires and passion coupled with focused intention and trust is the most powerful formula for manifestation. In order to create change and see specific results, it is essential to put our attention on what we want.

The Key is to FOCUS on the OUTCOME
as if it already EXISTS.

So, do you want to create the momentum that will produce optimal results in your business or organization? Would you like to attract more ideal clients? Increase your revenue? Double your income? Transition into a new career? Try these seemingly simple steps for 60 days and see the results:

1. Write your goals as affirmations. Writing is essential.It creates suggestion in the subconscious. Use present tense, with specifics: It is now March 2008, I have/am________ or my company is/has________.
Write what you will be doing and feeling when you are living in this outcome. Include as much detail as possible for evidence of achievement. This is a critical component in knowing/seeing that you have achieved your desired outcome.

2. Read these goals aloud 2-3 times a day- first thing in the morning and right before bedtime is very effective.

3. Use visuals to support your goals/affirmations: Create a collage or vision board. If you are leading a management team, facilitating a change initiative or strategic visioning process, I recommend using more sophisticated graphic template guides such as those available at www.grove.com.

4. Surround yourself with people who will support the achievement of your outcomes and hold you to high standards. Remove yourself from people and environments that do not support your vision.

5. Get inspired. Read autobiographies and biographies of your heroes, living or not. I was very motivated in my recent re-reading of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, and following his “secret” 100%.

6. Saturate yourself with learning. Engage in personal development workshops and seminars. Harv Eker’s Millionaire Mind Intensives and Guerilla Business School are life-changing.

7. Vow to Play a Bigger Game. Marianne Williamson said it best: “. . . we ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”

8. Maintain a consistent exercise program and balanced, healthy nutrition. Drink plenty of water. Reduce/eliminate sugar, alcohol, caffeine and red meat intake.

9. Every moment is a choice point. Living in this realization is very empowering. If you find yourself unclear at a choice point, be with the uncertainty. As one of my mentors often reminded me in times of anxiety or fear: ‘Don’t do anything, just be still.” Allow the inner flame of clarity to emerge. Then, refer back to the picture /words of your DESIRED OUTCOME and select an ACTION(S) that propels you towards your desires and goals.

10. Have fun with the process and enjoy the journey!

If it’s humanly possible, you CAN DO IT!

We all need support. Are you seeking a professional partner and vision keeper committed to helping you achieve desired outcomes in your business, organization, or with your “blessed unrest”? If so, contact me.  I’m here to serve!

Here is a wonderful exercise adapted from Tony Robbins‘ Awakening the Giant Within, introducing three guiding principles to lasting change:

RAISE YOUR STANDARDS

Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards. Write down all the things you will no longer accept or tolerate in your life, and all the things that you aspire to becoming. This is an exercise in deep personal honesty (telling yourself the truth 100% of time). Frequently ask yourself: What am I pretending not to know?

CHANGE YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS

Our beliefs are like unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what’s possible and what’s impossible, what we can and can not do. They shape every action, every thought, and every feeling that we experience. As a result, changing our belief systems is central to making any real and lasting change in our lives. We must develop a sense of certainty that we can and will meet the new standards before we actually do.

CHANGE YOUR STRATEGY

In order to keep your commitment, you need the best strategies for achieving results. If you have set a higher standard, and you can get yourself to believe, then you certainly can figure out the strategies. One of the best strategies in almost any case is to find a role-model, someone who’s already getting the results you want, and then tap into their knowledge.

Read about successful people. The most successful people have had mentors in every stage of their life. Who you associate with does help determine your happiness and success.

Many small business and career development organizations offer free mentoring services with a rich pool of volunteer, seasoned superstars, ready to share with you their experience, knowledge, and expertise.