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

There has traditionally been a lot of talk and development about leaders developing good listening skills. It’s seems obvious and basic that this a requisite skill for a leader to be effective – to listen to their constituents in order to best meet their needs. It’s necessary to listen to your customers, to listen to your peers, partners, suppliers, and employees.

But first, and foremost, you need to listen to yourself – that inner voice that is constantly in the background. What is it saying? Is it a constant chatter, a chaos of noise, or a focused subtle drumbeat? We all have our inner voice – critic, partner, confidant.

Our “inner” constituent is our most important one. Unless we exercise tools and strategies to pay attention to what it is saying and quiet it, pay attention to it and/or direct it, we can never be fully present and able to listen to those constituents in front of us.

Just for today, take a deep breath in, count to 10, and exhale to a count of 10. Do this 3 times.  You have just created space in your head and in your day. What did you hear?

To help with understanding your inner voice, I highly recommend The Voice of Knowledge by Don Miguel Ruiz.

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

Today is a full moon, a blue moon (full moon twice in one month) and a partial eclipse. Contrary to modern popular belief, this is not the time to plant the seeds for the new year. Instead you want to clean house and intention what you want to get rid of. What didn’t work for you in 2009? How about going into the new year lightening your load – whether it is being more stringent in what you take on or getting rid of old stuff. Old stuff can be clothes not worn in a year or outdated belief systems. Clean up and get with the times of what is current and works for you in the present.

2009 kicked my butt in terms of change - and some of it was painful. Often this pain can be due to our own creation – usually resistance. Here’s to transforming with grace and flow. Time to make room for possibilities…

It may be interesting to reflect on the last decade and dream about anticipated changes for the next decade. Many times we unconsciously recreate the same experiences. New things can only happen when you create the space. Time to shed and invite in true change. Why not?

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

Today is the time to work with nature’s energy of the new moon and plan for what you want more of in the new year. I am not talking about a resolution. Those don’t usually work past January 15th.

Take mental and emotional inventory of what you want more of next year. What served you, worked well. What didn’t you have this year that you want to have in your life? Focus on the possibilities - what you want to grow in your work and life. What you focus on expands and grows, and when you align it to the natural energies at play today, it makes it easier and more expansive.

Today is the day to plant the seeds on fertile ground. Befriend your imagination and plan for what if… What have you got to lose but the safety of what you currently know?

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

The best gift we can give loved ones over the holidays is to truly be present.

“The holidays are a good time to renew your heart connection with people. Make that your focus and priority. Spend more time enjoying people and their holiday spirit and it can help rekindle your holiday spirit. A great way you can enjoy more of the holiday spirit is by keeping your focus on genuinely appreciating and caring for others. Ask yourself each morning, ‘Who can I show a little more appreciation to, or who can I express more genuine care for today?’ It can be as simple as opening the door for someone or telling people that you appreciate them. Genuine gestures of care and appreciation are often remembered long after the holiday glitter is gone. You’ll find this is a fun gift for others and a big gift to yourself.”

Excerpts from Tips To Prevent Holiday Stress And Avoid Faking The Holiday Spirit article, Huffington Post Dec. 2009 by Doc Childre and Deborah Rozman, Ph.D

Courtesy of the Institute of HeartMath:

“Into your heart, pour generous quantities of love and care. Stir gently and sincerely. If the mixture is lumpy, add compassion and forgiveness and continue stirring ’til the lumps are dissolved. You may find bubbles of hope rising to the surface. Taste-testing at this point is encouraged. Although you will find the mixture already flavorful, you can enhance it by adding appreciation.
Appreciation for the qualities of your heart, for friends and family, or for this special time of year are all excellent flavor choices. Garnish with a sprig of joy and serve in large spoonfuls to everyone you meet this holiday season.”

“Shift Happens” is a presentation that shows how fast technology is driving the direction of our lives…and how the balance of power and money is and will continue to shift outside the U.S. It gives the world and in particular, Americans a much broader view on the intersection and impact of technology on learning, society and commerce.

Originally created by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Brenman, it started out as a Powerpoint presentation for a faculty meeting in August 2006 at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, United States. It “went viral”  in February 2007 and, as of today, the old and new versions of the presentation have been seen by at least 20 million people, not including others who have seen it at conferences, workshops, and other venues.

Some have questioned the exact statistics. I wouldn’t get too hung up if we can discern how many couples actually met online, for example; but to focus on its general irrefutable message: how profoundly technology has and will continue to change our lives. We cannot deny it is the greatest accelerator of change and pace of life today. It is also the great equalizer, leveling the playing field in terms of distribution of power and information.

The key is understanding what your choices are – and making those choices. How do you best leverage technology? What kind of boundaries do you put around technology? What is the pace of change you can effectively assimilate – for your life or business – where you stay challenged and yet centered amidst the storm of chaos and change? Within this accelerated technostorm, we always have choice – to stay plugged in or to unplug – in service of a sane yet current existence. These are the central questions of our times.

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

Recently I attended a reunion of HR Professionals who are former GE employees at Crotonville, GE’s Leadership Development Center. I was impressed that Jeff Immelt came and spent time with us – mostly answering our questions. My question: What are your greatest learnings as a leader and what advice would you give someone early in career who hopes to have your job one day?

His candid, thoughtful response:

Perseverance. You can’t be in this business these days and not have perseverance.

Listening. It’s not that it was a development need for me, but I have learned just how important deep listening is.

Bringing people along with you. Loyalty in times of crisis is key. I have been through 3 recessions in 8 years.

Other key comments:

The future of GE is outside the United States. American companies must have a global footprint. The new currency of business is who has jobs in the U.S. We can’t keep exporting jobs.

My lesson from the Board is to question: “What is the value of financial services?” This business will be smaller but now is not the time to get out.

As a country and as a company, we can’t take our reputation for granted.

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

Today is the Fall Equinox, marking the transition from summer to fall. There are equal parts sunlight and darkness everywhere on the planet. No discrimination. And the moon tonight will be unusually large and bright.

Before the days of readily available food for most people, life was hard. People farmed the land and provided sustenance for themselves. Weather was unpredictable and so this time of year when the harvest was bountiful, gratitude became important.

But today, what do we do? We take for granted the food that we have and the other great blessings of shelter, clothing, family, friends, meaningful work.

Use today or tonight as a time to express gratitude for what you have or to reflect on what you want to reap more of in your life – focus, discipline, love, peace, support. What you focus on multiplies.

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