Tag: Development

What Do You Do When Your Heroes And Leaders Aren’t What They Seem?

January 4, 2019By CiOIn Article, General LeadershipComments Off on What Do You Do When Your Heroes And Leaders Aren’t What They Seem?

Leadership Lesson: It’s important to learn from the situations in which a “hero,” or someone you considered a true leader, turns out to not be at all what was perceived or expected. 

Recently, I was catching up with a friend I hadn’t spoken to in some time. What led them to reach out was an article they had found online and texted to me which covered a leadership issue we both felt very strongly about. 

In any case, we got to “talking” (aka – texting) about the issue, and once we were done venting about the topic of the article, we briefly talked about everything else going on in our lives. We caught each other up on our jobs, our families, and the future goals…

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The Quest for High School Students: Self-Leadership & Getting To Where You Want To Be

November 16, 2018By CiOIn General Leadership, To The StudentsComments Off on The Quest for High School Students: Self-Leadership & Getting To Where You Want To Be

Leadership Lesson: For a student (of any kind), learning the lessons of leadership can begin as soon as someone shares with them both the lessons and the reasons why the lessons are important.

I got a good laugh recently when I showed the picture above to the high school students to whom I was presenting a leadership workshop. Right before I showed them this picture, I asked them to answer some questions by a show of hands:

Who here has a cell phone?

All hands went up.

Who here has a smart phone?

All hands went up.

Who here uses texting?

All hands went up.

It was those questions that elicited the outburst of laughter. I saw it coming. It was expected. And I admitted to the students the questions…

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In Working With Others, How Do You Challenge Them To Make Them Better?

November 2, 2018By CiOIn General Leadership, To The BossesComments Off on In Working With Others, How Do You Challenge Them To Make Them Better?

Leadership Lesson: Although leadership is about working to eliminate and minimize environmental, developmental, and mission-related obstacles, making someone or something better in the course of that work, it can’t be fully effective without challenging those who are led.

The leadership of yesteryear – coordinating people to carry out cookie-cutter, repetitive tasks that benefit a mission or organization – is long gone.

Even though most workplaces have evolved past that type of work and mentality, as time goes on, there is even more to leadership than just getting the best results. It’s not only about the task at hand but also about what is built for the future, in both the organization or group or the people carrying out the work.

Leadership is about getting the…

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To The Future Leaders: Be Sure To Become Aware Of Yourself And Others

October 27, 2018By CiOIn To The StudentsComments Off on To The Future Leaders: Be Sure To Become Aware Of Yourself And Others

Leadership Lesson: You can’t begin establishing a strong foundation of effectiveness or success, without a deep understanding of who you are and of those around you in your various environments.

In this previous post, I introduced this current series which covers a top-ten list of ideas I had provided to students at Quest 2017, a one-day summit hosted at Southern Connecticut State University by Connecticut’s Chapter of Prospanica, in partnership with its community and corporate partners. The annual event is filled with motivational presentations, speakers, and workshops providing students with tools for the next chapter in their lives.

The list is made up of tips students should consider as they continue on in their life, work, and careers and is made up…

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What Would Someone Write About You In A Letter of Reference?

October 19, 2018By CiOIn General LeadershipComments Off on What Would Someone Write About You In A Letter of Reference?

Leadership Lesson: To understand your best attributes, as well as areas which need improvement, it’s advantageous to consider how a letter of reference for you would read.

It’s always great to help someone else out, making sure they’re empowered to reach what they’re working for. Not enough opportunities exist in which each of us can thoroughly highlight someone else’s strengths to others, spelling out exactly how others would benefit from that person’s skills. Just as scarce are the instances in which someone can see such a review of their own efforts and character.

There are no everyday, common instances to share that information about someone else or see it about ourselves.

One of the few mechanisms in which people can both provide those types of thoughts…

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Not Being Where You Think You Should Be In Your Career Can Be A Learning Experience

October 5, 2018By CiOIn General LeadershipComments Off on Not Being Where You Think You Should Be In Your Career Can Be A Learning Experience

Leadership Lesson: When feeling as if you’ve wasted too much time before finally landing your desired job, there’s power in reassessment — looking back at all your experiences and realizing they’ve all served a purpose.

I was speaking to someone recently who had finally landed the job they wanted. After years of working other less-satisfying jobs here and there, while applying and interviewing for other, more-desired jobs, they were able to finally get a job they felt would provide them true satisfaction.

They finally felt as if they’d reached the first steps of their own personal success.

They felt like their true career could finally begin.

During that conversation, though, they lamented that they felt they had wasted so much time in their journey. That, unfortunately, it…

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How Do You Step Up And Lead When A Void Exists In Leadership?

September 28, 2018By CiOIn General LeadershipComments Off on How Do You Step Up And Lead When A Void Exists In Leadership?

Leadership Lesson: How do you step up to fill in for leadership, bringing about the needed impact in your environment when leadership is nowhere to be found?

We see various forms of leadership all around us, from within our local groups and communities to the higher and upper echelons of domestic, international, and global affairs.

We’re accustomed to seeing someone at the helm, typically confident enough in their steadfast approach, balanced demeanor, and respect for the influence they have. In that leader’s self-awareness there exists a true understanding of the far-reaching implications and ripple effect of his or her power.

In most environments, those seeking the top leadership standing will vie for the power against others longing for the same position. And whoever wins the post…

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To The Future Leaders: In The Course Of Your Journey, Always Keep Learning

September 21, 2018By CiOIn To The StudentsComments Off on To The Future Leaders: In The Course Of Your Journey, Always Keep Learning

Leadership Lesson: In order to get better, continue evolving, and refine our development, we need to take on and utilize as much valuable knowledge as we can.

In this previous post, I introduced this current series which covers a top-ten list of ideas I had provided to students at Quest 2017, a one-day summit hosted at Southern Connecticut State University by Connecticut’s Chapter of Prospanica, in partnership with its community and corporate partners. The annual event is filled with motivational presentations, speakers, and workshops providing students with tools for the next chapter in their lives.

The list is made up of tips students should consider as they continue on in their life, work, and careers and is…

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What People Teach Us: Opinions & Protecting Yourself From…Yourself

September 14, 2018By CiOIn CiO BriefsComments Off on What People Teach Us: Opinions & Protecting Yourself From…Yourself

Leadership Lesson: You should take into account how others may view you, as an exercise in considering all points of view—and their merits.

An anonymous op-ed by a alleged White House insider claiming to be part of a “quiet resistance within the administration of people choosing to put country first” appeared in the New York Times last week. An op-ed crafted and published in anonymity is a first for the NY Times, so the stakes are high considering the writer’s claims and anonymity and the newspaper’s relationship with the target of the piece, the President.

As expected, everyone seems to have an opinion on the method of delivery. And from the right and the left, and everywhere in between, people are utilizing the…

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Who Took A Chance On You? How Do You Pay It Forward And Take A Chance On Others?

September 7, 2018By CiOIn General LeadershipComments Off on Who Took A Chance On You? How Do You Pay It Forward And Take A Chance On Others?

Leadership Lesson: It’s important to keep in mind those who played a proactive, committed, and invested role in helping you get to where you are today and how you’re paying it forward and doing the same for others.

Leadership is never solely about the here and now. It’s also about developmental accomplishments to date and working toward the future. We take what we’ve gotten and achieved up until now and improve upon it to move forward.

And whether we’re taking stock of the foundation of knowledge, skill, and experience that got us to today, or preparing for the future we need for our mission, ourselves, and our people, we’re never thinking about it alone.

Very rarely does any leader fly solo.

Whether it’s one word of advice…

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To The Future Leaders: Face Your Weaknesses And Fears

August 10, 2018By CiOIn To The StudentsComments Off on To The Future Leaders: Face Your Weaknesses And Fears

Leadership Lesson: You can’t work past a weakness or fear that is holding you back or paralyzing you without turning into it, analyzing it, and breaking it down.

In this previous post, I introduced this current series which covers a top-ten list of ideas I had provided to students at Quest 2017, a one-day summit hosted at Southern Connecticut State University by Connecticut’s Chapter of Prospanica, in partnership with its community and corporate partners. The annual event is filled with motivational presentations, speakers, and workshops providing students with tools for the next chapter in their lives.

The list is made up of tips students should consider as they continue on in their life, work, and careers and is…

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The Leader’s Responsibility: Don’t Lose Sight Of Those Who Depend On Your Leadership

July 13, 2018By CiOIn To The BossesComments Off on The Leader’s Responsibility: Don’t Lose Sight Of Those Who Depend On Your Leadership

Leadership Lesson: It’s important to keep track of what others need, following up accordingly to make sure they are getting the ongoing tools, support, and trust they need to make progress, improve performance, and overcome challenges.

How do you keep your ear to the ground as a leader?

As you make your way through your environments, how do you ensure that you remember the things that are pertinent and important, whether they are of a positive, neutral, or negative nature, not losing sight of their relevance.

How do you make sure you’re not taking your eye off the ball?

First, think about it as it applies to you.

It’s important to remember the thoughts, ideas, and drive you had for yourself in your path to…

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Here Are 5 Books For Your Journey To Overcoming Fear Of Failure

June 23, 2018By CiOIn Article, General Leadership, To The StudentsComments Off on Here Are 5 Books For Your Journey To Overcoming Fear Of Failure

Leadership Lesson: Don’t overlook the power of books to fill in the gaps in lessons you may not see or have access to in your work or personal life.

Last week, I presented a workshop for B.I.G. – Believe. Inspire. Grow, a women’s empowerment network providing women with the inspiration, community, and tools to help them become the best versions of themselves.  

I presented to the audience on how to begin overcoming their fear of failure.

This is such a relevant topic, because the more I work with individuals and groups, both through presentations and coaching, the more I realize how much each of us grapples with our own unique fear of failure.

Overall, it’s no secret that…

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To All The Graduates: From Now On, You May Be At The Mercy Of Other People

June 1, 2018By CiOIn To The GraduatesComments Off on To All The Graduates: From Now On, You May Be At The Mercy Of Other People

At this point in life, more than any other, every one of you is bound to receive tips and advice from your various circles of family, friends, and confidants. Some of those bits of advice you may have already heard, while others you may have not.

Regardless of whether you have or not, or whether you believe you understand the meaning or not, when it comes to that advice, whoever it is who provides it to you, get their story. Be curious enough about their experiences to reconcile what it is they’ve seen in life to the advice they’ve decided to share with you.

Don’t let words of advice ring hollow, becoming, in effect, clichés. Follow up. Ask why the few…

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Leadership Can Be Lonely: How Do You Really Step Outside Of Yourself To Connect?

May 18, 2018By CiOIn Article, General Leadership, To The BossesComments Off on Leadership Can Be Lonely: How Do You Really Step Outside Of Yourself To Connect?

Leadership Lesson: Loneliness is trending toward becoming an epidemic, but a similar, powerful emptiness — an unfulfilled and psychological need – can also exist in leadership.

Loneliness can rob us of our best lives, in which we could get to know others on a deeper level and utilize and develop our greatest abilities. At the same time, it robs others of the opportunity to know us and realize, and benefit from, what we could provide.

These two articles outline the growing severity and proliferation of loneliness in society:

Seven Simple Ways To Cope With Loneliness

Loneliness Is A Health Issue, And Needs Targeted Solutions

Much in the same way loneliness is detrimental in people’s personal lives,…

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