observe what arrived, not what you sent?12 people in the room, 13 versions of the orderIn a...
Leadership topic - observe
Observe is step four of the empower framework: leaders who observe read the room and rapidly respond to critical opportunities. Evaluate all problems and solutions from different angles, involve stakeholders in solution formation, and experiments with a pilot before taking a project to the next level; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answers; sought out by others for advice and solutions.
Roadblock – Is not open to criticism; gets upset and blames others for problems; Picks a side versus finding a path to the middle
Start with Virtue, The Middle or Vision, then see how it plays out across the Van Halen series.
A Long December… observe what the spotlight is costing you?
observe what the spotlight is costing you?"What is the worst thing that could possibly...
Lucille… what do you observe?
When Seeds are burning... A vice president stopped at my door...The stereo in my office played...
Just breathe… and observe what is still Alive
“Hey, thanks for making time to meet me this morning! How have you been?”He was a...
observe… what makes you Begin Again?
observe… Yep - that is a wrecked car in a LinkedIn post. I lived through it. Mostly. Now...
Mind observations…
Mind observing your ego? Bring your family so we can get to know you ... the words that stood...
observing Outcomes
By my Junior year in High School, I had found at least the beginnings of who I was becoming. Now officially on the Debate Team, I spent the summer at a camp for Debaters at TCU. Yes… I am a real nerd who actually spent two weeks preparing, studying, and practicing the debate topic for all of the NFL that season…
… and the renewal of Virtue…
Declaring that you have a faith stance opens you up for a lot of attacks, some deserved, and some that are not, but all are worth considering. Can you actually be ready to make an account for what you believe? And as someone said once, if you were in a court of law, could the actually convict you of your Faith using evidence?
executing Virtue…
“It is 10 to the hour, and based on our agreement, this meeting is over. Thank you for coming, we will schedule a follow-up soon. And now you may all go to your next engagement”. Stunned is probably the best description of the people in the room, including me…
Virtue wonders….
To this day, I am known for connecting people and seeking out relationships to work through challenges and opportunities. I stalked a person for a year, who is now a good friend, and more importantly, a master Organist… and knew some Bach works that I should feature this week…
How are Virtues observed?
As I leaped out of IBM just before they laid off 40,000 people, I was fortunate to land a job at Fannie Mae. Their Vice-Chairman saw a Business Week article (remember that magazine…) about Software Reuse, and directed the CIO to pursue it. It makes sense – write software well once, and Reuse it over and over,
Virtue partners…
… some leaders who are stunning in their clarity and focus on what matters most – living out their values authentically for their team and themselves. I was honored to partner with one at VeriSign who went through many busy seasons with me, including learning to leverage RAPID for our team’s best…
Do you manage with Virtue?
Interviewing for my last “real” corporate gig, my peer was venting about his team – and how they were not “leading” like he wanted them to. I wasn’t a coach – officially yet – but asked what seemed obvious … “Well, have you told them what you expected?”
What Virtue engages?
It will not surprise you that I was a big fan of the early Woody Allen. His wry ability to engage the world around him by turning everything on its head has guided my life…