Sage Sense
a blog dedicated to leadership tips, inspiration and lessons learned from leaders everywhere.
Sage Tidbit #19: Who Are You Protecting?
Today, I’m sharing a story about one of my clients, Mark (name changed), and how he was able to honor his late father's advice while he was meeting some leadership challenges in terms of how he developed the leaders who reported to him. In Mark’s story, he was protecting a leader who he perceived to be weak, but in doing so, he was allowing harm to come to other employees. Sometimes we can do harm by not doing anything.
Sage Tidbit #18: Election Results & Cultivating Authentic Communities of Care
Here, in the United States, many of us are digesting the results of the Presidential Election. Some people are celebrating and excited about the future and some are scared or terrified about the future. Regardless of where you are, it is important, now more than ever, to build bridges and seek to understand the other person’s point of view.
Sage Tidbit #17: What do you Think & How do you Think?
All results start with a thought. It’s important periodically to take inventory on WHAT you are thinking and HOW you are thinking about what you are thinking, since your thoughts directly impact your behavior and results.
Sage Tidbit #16: Metrics That Matter
Once you have clarified your goal and really believe it is possible, and see yourself achieving it, AND take consistent action aligned with your goal, THEN it’s about making sure you measure what will give you the information you need that helps you know you are making the progress you need to in order to achieve your goal.
Sage Tidbit #15: Actions Must Back Up Your Beliefs!
Last week, I talked about belief and the power of the mind and what’s possible. You can think and believe all you want but if you don’t have accompanying action, not a lot is going to happen. So, it’s not ALL about JUST believing. It’s most important to engage in action that is aligned with what you believe.
Sage Tidbit #14: Power-On Your Possibility!
When we are in a state of "anything is possible," we are uplifted, optimistic, we can "rise above it all" and BELIEVE. THAT is the key. BELIEF.
How can you Power-On your belief that It (insert your aspiration here) – or anything - is Possible?
Sage Tidbit #13: Being an Integrated Leader
Leading with Head and Heart
That is what it means to be an integrated leader – one who embodies being connected to themselves and others, and who can also rigorously think through complex problems. Easier said than done!
What does this REALLY require?
Sage Tidbit #12: How Can You Take Your Leadership to the Next Level?
Today I’m sharing Amy’s* story: A leader who was already very successful and had just been promoted and given a much broader role in the organization. She was a dynamic doer and adept at mentoring and educating her people. They looked to her for answers. Her challenge was being an even more strategic leader who needed to learn about...
Sage Tidbit #11: What Matters to You & How Can You Contribute?
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness…” An often-quoted passage from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, that can describe the world today.
Which city do you want to live in? It’s about conscious leadership and deciding who you are and how you want to find meaning and contribute regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in.
Sage Tidbit #10: The Cs & As of Leadership Teams
Here are the 2 Cs: Clarity and Commitment; here are the 2 As: Agreement and Alignment.
I work with senior leadership teams and find that, in order for them to be performing at their best, they need to effectively address these four areas.
Sage Tidbit #9: Sharpening the Knife
Last week, I told a story about an interaction with my stepson where I asked him to cut a watermelon. I showed him how to do it but I neglected to share an important detail in the story.
Sage Tidbit #8: Watermeloning!
The other day, I asked my stepson to cut a watermelon to help with preparing dinner. It was a large watermelon and he was overwhelmed by the task – not sure he could safely do it without cutting himself, and he didn’t know how to “properly” cut a watermelon.
Sage Tidbit #7: Focusing & Prioritizing
Today, we are focused on focusing and prioritizing. I use the present tense because, in this day of upheaval, uncertainty, constant change and where many people undiagnosed have ADD…attention deficit…difficulty focusing. We all need help, at times, to stay focused, and refocus, as things change and new information emerges.
Sage Tidbit #6: Staying Calm & Present
At the end of all my coaching engagements (which typically last 6-18 months), a question I often ask is, “What did you learn about yourself in this process?” Today, I share a real-time reflection from one of my clients...
Sage Tidbit #5: Striving & Accepting What Is
What is the balance point of striving and push yourself and your team to achieve your goals and accepting what is, that maybe it’s not meant to be – you are not meant to achieve that goal?
Sage Tidbit #4: Balancing Care & Accountability
How you balance cultivating a culture of care while holding your people accountable for their performance?
Sage Tidbit #3: Vitality in Life & Work, Part 2 - Relationships
Last week, we established that having energy and vitality are what enable you to do life well and perform well, sustainably, at work. Today, we are going to discuss the impact that nourishing Relationships have on your vitality.
Sage Tidbit #2: Vitality in Life & Work, Part 1 - Purpose
Having energy and vitality are what enable you to have a sense of well-being and do life well and perform well, sustainably, at work. What gives you a sense of energy and vitality in your life and/or work?
Sage Tidbit #1: KnowLearnBecoming
We are starting to offer Sage Sense Tidbits. A tidbit is a small morsel…of inspiration, insights, or lessons learned/tips to reflect on and digest over your week.
What You Do Offstage Matters for What Happens Onstage
What you do offstage (on your own time at home, or in your office, when no one sees you) to take care of yourself – really matters for what happens onstage…
This month, I had an in-depth one-on-one conversation with over 15 leaders about their own self-care practices. One of the biggest things I learned is…