Archive for May, 2008

The most elegant path to effective leadership

May 29th, 2008

I've been on a learning spurt in the past few months around the most effective ways to influence people, to lead, and to have my life proceed according to my highest desires. And what I'm learning is a way of operating that is much more effective than the conventional wisdom.

Fitting perfectly into that learning, I happened upon a very inspiring book called Synchronicity, the Inner Path of Leadership, by Joseph Jaworski.

The book affirms that leadership is about collectively creating the future and that the most effective way to lead is to use synchronicity, meaning to create the conditions for “predictable miracles”.

I'm sure you can think of a time when a happy accident led you to progress in an unexpected way. A common example is a coincidental meeting with someone who can forward your goals. Another example is when your eyes catch sight of a book that perfectly meets your needs (just as happened for me with this book!) For me, some of the most influential connections I've made in the past few years have happened purely by accident.

The book is both a personal story and an attempt to describe how to lead using synchronicity. Here are my notes.

  1. The most important choice a leader makes is to serve. Without choosing to serve your followers and/or society, your capacity to lead is profoundly limited.
  2. Want the result for its own sake. That means you must avoid egoic attachments to the results such as wanting to prove yourself as a leader, wanting to beat the competition etc. For the example above, you would want the profit simply for the benefits that will accrue to the company and your team.
  3. Be committed; believe it is possible; use willingness not will. You must simultaneously  be committed to success while being open to allowing the process to unfold in the easiest possible way.  This reminds me of Deepak Chopra's 4th Law of Success: The Law of Least Effort. Lao Tzu has said that “An integral being…accomplishes without doing.”
  4. Attract what and who you want through authentic presence and love. When you generate an internal feeling of unconditional love, others are influenced by it, whether they know it or not.
  5. The ability to create the conditions for synchronicity is not special. It's available to everyone.

If I've really learned these lessons this time, my life should begin flowing with great ease. And yours too. So, let's see!

Evening Workshop on How to Love Your Work

May 29th, 2008

If you'd like to enjoy your work life more, or if you're thinking of
changes, here's another chance to meet with some like-minded souls to make a fresh start on improving your career. Carole Lewis and I will be guiding a small group on June 16th on how to Love Your Work in 5 Steps!
See www.GettingWorkYouLove.com for all the details.

You can also sign-up there for our revised and improved free e-course.

“This workshop gave me some
new perspectives and the increased motivation to make changes that I knew I
needed to make.”


–Lorna Robertson,
Teacher,
Hong Kong

Calm Control Personal Productivity Workshop

May 29th, 2008

Kristin Lowe, the Managing Director of Organising Solutions, is not only the most organized person I know, she is a font of knowledge on the subject. You should see her book collection. I didn't know there were modern encyclopedias on organizing. She is also totally passionate about helping people reduce stress and regain control of their time.

In June she's running a two-morning workshop, The Calm Control™ Personal Productivity Workshop that will help you:

  • Reclaim time lost searching for buried information by creating a comprehensive workflow management system
  • Improve your decision-making speed and eliminate inefficiencies caused by information overload
  • Increase your capacity to manage multiple tasks, projects and ever-changing priorities
  • Enhance your ability to identify and remain focused on the most profitable activities

The workshop is suitable for working people, managers considering offering an in-house version, or household 'CEOs'.

Dates

Part 1 – Tuesday 24 June, 9:30-12:45

Part 2 – Wednesday 25 June, 9:30-12:45

Click here for more information and to get your special price. Registration closes on June 16.

Talking about the International Association of Coaching

May 29th, 2008

I was interviewed for the Coachville Caffeine daily online radio show about:
- how I became a coach and then the President of the IAC
- what the IAC is all about
- my big dream for the world and for the IAC

You can listen here. My part is just over 30 minutes long.

At 27:45 I talk about my big dream for the IAC and the world: “It's about how coaching influences people and how coaching brings people forward, which is so important for our world at this point. …”