There are a number of significant differences with Tiger’s situation. He has taken time out to reassess his life through intensive therapy. He apologized and acknowledged that he thought he was entitled – he doesn’t get to play by different rules than everyone else. I have never heard such sentiments from a powerful public figure. He apologized to the children for whom he is a role model. He appears genuine.

The road to true transformation is messy and chaotic with no quick fixes. He acknowledged he is at just the very beginning of this process. The challenge of any great leader who is at the top of their field is to not to allow their ego to run their life. When their success comes with a lot of money and a lot of people riding on this money, the stakes and temptations are even higher.

My biggest hope for Tiger’s reform is in his approach – taking full accountability for his actions and trying to protect his family from further damage and exposure – and above all else where he rests his ultimate solution – to rebalance his spiritual life with his professional life. He is looking to reclaim his spiritual foundation and values – and recognizes he can’t do it alone. He needs the support and help of the very same people he has disappointed. This humility is the way of the sage leader.

Ultimately, I am with Elin – true atonement comes over time seeing a real change in behavior. Tiger has made the necessary first step – asking for forgiveness. This requires something on all our parts – understanding and giving him and his family privacy to journey through this difficult process.

For the judges in the audience, please remember the great adage: all saints were once sinners and all sinners can be saints.

© Copyright Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC                 www.sagelead.com

The sage leader is one who rides the turbulent wave of uncertainty and changing business paradigms. In order to do this and keep yourself grounded you need to engage in certain practices: Reflect, Connect, Invest.

Reflect to gain clarity on what you want and to gain insight on what is working and not working in terms of your own leadership getting you to where you want to go or where your organization needs you to go.

Connect with your colleagues to support and help each other grow and develop.

Invest in your and other’s development. This takes time and effort to build relationships that support your goals. I suggest thinking about not only ways in which you can be mentored or receive safe feedback and support but always ways you can mentor others, regardless of where you are at in your career.

© Copyright 2010 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC

Yesterday marked the Winster Solstice, the shortest day of the year. In ancient times, people would pray that the sun would come back. They didn’t know for sure if it would as they didn’t have access to as much science and information as we do today. So, in the dark of winter their faith was tested. They didn’t know if they had what it took – food, shelter, or emotional hardiness – to survive the winter.

I don’t know of anyone who isn’t going through major changes in their job, relationship, health or life. Depending upon your perspective, you may see these as opportunities or challenges. Much of the time this comes down to faith – that things will get better, somehow, someway, tomorrow. So much of it is managing yourself and others in the white space – during the transitionary time – which often is about managing your own fears and anxieties about the unknown. Many of us are experiencing growing pains but we can get through this together.

In reflecting on the past year, I saw many people’s faith – either in themselves, their company, world leaders, their neighbor or the world – tested. In college, I had an art professor who said, “Within the darks there are some lights and within the lights there are some darks.” Thank you Sister Dineen!

I invite you to take this time of winter that tests our patience and hope to reflect on what you find in your circumstances that is positive. I didn’t say necessarily what is easy or what feels good. What is for the greater good – for yourself, your family, your company or for the world? Hang your hat on this. Just for today.

Copyright 2009 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC        www.sagelead.com

Does this sound contradictory? It is possible to be connected to your constituents but not be tied to your pervasive electronic device of choice - wireless laptop, blackberry, I-phone, cell phone? 

In this age of information, accessibility and turbulent changes, it’s understandable that you want to stay connected - to your customers, to your people, and to your suppliers. But, what does it mean to be connected? Is it to be personally on top of the needs, changes or ensuring this work gets done? How honest are you with yourself in making this distinction?

Without sleep and some sense of downtime you lose your edge – your ability to be on, energized and focused. Even your blackberry needs to be recharged occasionally. As a society we have changed our addictions from health, exercise, relationships, and work to our portable devices. What is driving this? Is it fear of losing the next deal? Fear of not being needed? Fear of not being the top performer? Does this little device really give you more control over these fears?

How do you recharge? Is it possible to schedule in time to unplug or discipline yourself to not respond to every ping or call? What does unplugging give you? I propose more balance and therefore ultimately better performance.

What have you got to lose other than freeing up some space on your hard drive?

What would happen if you had empty space? What would you fill it up with?

Copyright 2009    Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC      www.sagelead.com

Joseph Campbell, a great prophet of mysticism and the human condition, once said: “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”

Instead of fighting the tide and wondering when things will return to normal, focus on what lies in front of you and accept this is what IS, not what SHOULD be or what you would LIKE it to be.

What IS presents you with your Plan B – what God gave you while you were busy making other plans. Acceptance is the first step toward freeing up your creativity and kicking it in gear with better options.

So… now that you are no longer wasting your energy on swimming upstream….

So, now what?

So you have a team that is based in 8 different time zones in more than a dozen countries. If you have to be on calls at 6 am, 11 am, 4pm, 8 pm and 2 am – when do you sleep and how do you manage?

I am hearing about this kind of activity from many executives who work for global organizations.

Let’s get REAL! We have the technology that allows us to communicate and work 24/7 but we don’t have the human capacity to do this – not if we:

a) want to think clearly and effectively solve problems.

b) want to have a life.

b) want to have a HEALTHY life.

What is the solution?

1. Set boundaries for your personal capacity. There is a lot to be said for going back to basics. Be TRULY strategic and make forced choices about what meetings YOU personally need to be involved in.

2. This naturally leads to delegating and effective decision making.

3. Be realistic about your physical capacity: growing it AND realizing you are a FINITE creature.

Focus on YOUR basic requirements of eating, sleeping and exercising “rightly” for your own body needs. Only you know for sure. Some people can get by on 4 hours a sleep forever. Others start to melt down doing this more than 3 nights in a row. In terms of exercise, find a regime that focuses on efficiency - spending the least amount of time to get the most health benefits. I am partial to practices like Yoga, in particular Naam Yoga. 

We are living in the age of the frantic mind. This impacts your body and stress levels. We need to do things that clear and balance the mind – brain aerobics. If you don’t do this you are nowhere – but fast like a gerbil!

Get off the wheel and reassess & regroup for optimal longterm impact.

Copyright 2009 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC         www.sagelead.com

Nietzche once said, “Those who were dancing were thought insane by those who could not hear the music.” These times challenge us to stay positive and see the opportunity with all the changes taking place. The opportunities are the music.

I challenge you to see the joy, possibility, and dare I say, even the blessings with all the shifts and changes taking place in your world. I am hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t going through major changes and challenges  – whether it is with a job, family or health situation. If you are not, then just look to a family member, friend or neighbor and see how you can support their changes.

I offer a new paradigm – to go through transformation with grace and joy, despite some pain – this is true leadership. The only way out is through. A new way out is without attachment.

How can you model this for others?

Copyright 2009 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC         www.sagelead.com

Some say, “Why has he been nominated? He hasn’t done anything yet. He hasn’t actually accomplished anything.”

I can see both sides. Results of his foreign policies haven’t been fully gleaned yet. And the nomination deadline was February 1, only two weeks after he entered office. Should he even be considered for this Prize this year given the timing?

I would also offer that we are in a new era and what he has given many is hope. Is that measurable? If so, how so? Hope is one of these really esoteric intangible “things” that we know makes a difference but we can’t see it or touch it. Can we feel it? Can we feel it collectively? If so, so what?

How does hope change you and change those around you? How do you engender and offer hope to others? I invite you to think about a time when you lost hope – and then found it. How did you know? What changed in your life as result of having hope? So What… then?

Copyright 2009  Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC      www.sagelead.com

Recently, I had lunch with a friend who shared his experience looking for his next position.

He is a senior media executive and is the final candidate for two positions, while still employed. How many people would like to say this?

For one position, my friend had 15 interviews which included 10 different visits. I can see 5, maybe 6 visits – but 10 – and over six months??  Seems over the top. It begs many questions – difficulty making decisions? Budget-shy due to economic concerns? Do the job specs keep changing? Are they being ridiculously picky on meeting all the specs to every degree?

My friend ran into someone who was on his roster of interviewers at an industry function. The job is still in play and this individual asked my friend if he could interview him for one of his own departmental positions. Awkward.

For another position, my friend was asked to create an entire strategy and branding campaign for a live situation for a potential employer. In my line of work, that is considered free consulting, among other things. My friend did not get any substantial feedback on this work and the next month the entire business was rebranded. The company also never ended up filling the vacant role.

My takeaway? Anything goes. You have to be clear in how far you are willing to go to get the job – and then let the chips fall where they may. Years ago, when I was interviewing at a Fortune 500 company, they brought me in five times over a year timeframe and wanted to bring me in again – for only a mid-level position. I finally said no. “I am not going in again. You know enough about me – make your decision with what you know.” I got the job.

What’s the balance point between accomodating requests in a “buyers market” and being willing to jump through any hoop?

Copyright 2009 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC      www.sagelead.com

An ancient text – the I-Ching – has words of wisdom we can all heed when faced with obstacles. Nature can be our greatest teacher, if we let it. Pause and Build Strength.

“When flowing water … meets with obstacles on its path, a blockage in its journey, it pauses. It increases in volume and strength, filling up in front of the obstacle and eventually spilling past it….  

“Do not turn and run, for there is nowhere worthwhile for you to go.

Do not attempt to push ahead into the danger … emulate the example of the water:

Pause and build up your strength until the obstacle no longer represents a blockage.”

This can be counter-intuitive.

Where do you need to pause to be strong like water? Have you noticed obstacles dissolve when you don’t immediately react? Experiment, just for today.

Copyright 2009 Sage Leadership Strategies, LLC         www.sagelead.com