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(Side note: For those of you
who think global warming
and going green is
a hoax of some sort -
keep reading. This isn't what you may
think.)
Are you a leader? Some
folks believe everyone
is a leader in one way
or another. You may lead a
multi-national
organization or a team
at work. You may lead a
business unit or a pack
of scouts. You may lead
a volunteer organization
or just be "mom" or
"dad". In any case, you
are a leader.
Did you know that one of
your primary jobs as a
leader is to
GO GREEN?
After all, it is the
latest and greatest
initiative. You see if
everywhere. Every day
there seems to be a new
study on how to be more
and more "green". One
study says to change all
your light bulbs to
those twisty compact
fluorescent ones to save
the planet. Another says
that there's mercury in
those twisty light bulbs that will destroy
the planet. Hybrid cars
will save fossil fuels,
except that the lithium
batteries are
manufactured and
transported using a
process that requires
far more fossil fuels
than the batteries will
ever save. What are we
to believe? Everyone is
jumping on the band
wagon, but I'm not sure
where it is going. No
matter which side you
believe, please read
on...
 I believe that
I have a sure fire way
to change and "go green"
as a leader (without
much controversy). Now,
I don't mean that you'll
lead in the dark because
you've turned off your
lights. Going green
isn't simply about
conserving energy and
preserving the planet.
Going GREEN
is about being a good
steward of resources... not
just fossil fuels and
other resources from
Mother Earth, but
more importantly it is
about being a good
steward of your
organizational energy
and the resources within
the people that you
lead.
Have you ever thought
about the organizational
energy of your team?
In The Power of Full Engagement, Loehr
and Schwartz say that
"Leaders are the stewards of
organizational energy. They recruit, direct, channel,
renew, focus and invest energy from all the individual
contributors in the service of the corporate mission.
The energy of each individual contributor within a
corporation must be actively recruited. This requires
aligning individual and organizational purpose."
Change and
Going GREEN
demand and require
PURPOSE
In order to be a good
steward of your team's
energy and resources,
you MUST align around a
purpose.
"It takes great leaders
to bring a purpose to life. And if there is one thing
there is a shortage of, it's leaders who have a sense of
purpose. [Leaders] must inspire employees and other
stakeholders to bring to life that purpose day in and day
out. And, at the end of the day, that is what
distinguishes ordinary companies from extraordinary
companies." - Jim Stengel, former P&G global
marketing officer
 The number one driver of
change and growth shared
by the masters of
purpose is the desire to
make a difference.
Making a difference is
the fuel that inspires
your team and drives
their energy. "Making a
difference" isn't
touchy-feely
motivational hype. It is
having a definitive idea
of the difference you
are trying to make AND a
strategic plan to pull
it off. The plan
without the purpose
causes frustration and
burn-out. Is your team
experiencing this?
What
is your purpose?
What is it that you,
your team, your
organization are trying
to accomplish? What
difference are you
trying to make?
Is your difference
focused on completing a
task or project? making
more money? some other
extrinsic, tangible,
measurable goal?
If so, terrific, but...
you are only part of the
way there. To get to
purpose and making a
difference, you must
determine what
INTRINSIC value will
come from achieving it.
Are your team members
becoming better human
beings, practicing
valuable skills,
learning new ways of
thinking? Are you
customers and
stakeholders becoming
better people because of
your work? Will their
lives be improved in a
meaningful way?
This must be the
basis of your purpose...
infinite, intrinsic
value. You can't put a
price on it. You, as a
leader who is "going
green", needs to be the
steward of that purpose.
In his book It's Not What You Sell, It's What You Stand For , Roy
Spence, Jr. gives us six
principles for being a
good steward of your
organizational energy.
-
Make it job #1 to be the
torch bearer of purpose
- Walk the talk and be a role model for the values and
purpose you want your team (family) to live by. Without
embracing and living the values and purpose, your team
won't be green and growing but rather brown and wilting.
-
Believe in
purpose before profits (values before victory)
- Leaders who are going green don't send memos
describing purpose and values. They think about how to
bring the values to life in a way that is meaningful to
their team and relevant to their customers' lives.
-
Use purpose to
create alignment and drive performance
- The more the world knows about what you stand for, the
more you will attract the people who are aligned with
your purpose.
-
Keep in mind what
you're fighting for
- According to Mr. Spence, "[CEO's] who talk about
winning in terms of financial performance alone are like
night and day compared to those who talk about winning
in terms of making a difference in the lives of their
stakeholders... [R]arely do those fighting for
shareholder value achieve the kind of performance
achieved by those focused on making a meaningful
difference."
-
Use purpose, not
personality, to lead
- "Charismatic leaders like Sam Walton are effective
precisely because they are communicating Purpose;
leaders who try to inspire by sheer force of character
have at best a short-term impact... Leaders are
effective to the extent that they express effective
Purpose." - Nikos Mourkogiannis, Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies
- Don't try to learn charisma or tips and techniques
in regards to personality. Charisma is born out of
purpose.
-
Do right by your
purpose
- Know your purpose
- Put your purpose before your ego
- Have the courage to do what needs to be done
My friend, go green with
your team!!
Be a good
steward of their energy
by being a good steward
of your purpose.
All the leadership
principles in the world
won't create a truly
great leader in the
absence of a great
purpose.
Want to learn to
be a Great Leader and GO GREEN?
We are offering a summer special
on group coaching.
$300 off
the regular price of $1799. (That's going green!! and
keeping more green in your pocket.)
This special is only valid in
June and July of 2009. (PMP®
certificants earn 20 PDUs upon completion.)
What will you learn?
-
how to get 40% more
cooperation from others
-
how to stay focused and
accomplish more with your time and energy
-
how to think and speak more
clearly and in front of your superiors
-
how to manage expectations
-
how to find your purpose
-
plus much, much more
Sign up TODAY!! Group
coaching for only $1499.
You will receive:
-
2 Complete 6 Advisors assessment -
One at the beginning and another at the end to measure
your progress.
-
180 page Coaching Practicum and other materials
-
14 Group Coaching
teleconference
- Each lasts about 60 - 90 minutes and may include
an occasional webinar.
Special pricing
available through July 2009. I promise you that you will
forever change your life for the better. (And I don't
just say that, I back it up with a guarantee!) You can
learn more at
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