People often ask “How do I become a better leader?” The answer: Ask questions.
Who around you is a great leader? What is it that makes them a great leader ? How do they speak? Hold their body? Engage others?
For those who complain “There are no leaders in my organization.” Be even more aware of those around you:
What do they do that makes them fail to lead? How do those not leading show up in meetings? How do those not leading speak? Hold their body? Engage others?
Then ask even better questions: Who can I observe who is a great leader? Who can I observe in the elevator, government, movies, media?
James Bond, Oprah, Bono…
There are moments all around us to ALWAYS BE learning – if we choose to tune in, pay attention and be even more aware.
Eating dinner one night in San Francisco, Aaron and I happened upon a charismatic enlisted Coastie. Jon (name has been changed) is serving our Coast Guard to earn his college education - all with the hope, someday of becoming a professional photographer. We listened to his dreams, his challenges on the boat as an enlisted man, and his pride and joy: a new camera and MacBook….
What shocked us – was to see the quality and variety of his images. We playfully teased him: "what would it take to become a professional photographer?" Jon jumped right into the various techniques he wanted to learn, the theory and science he wanted to master, and on and on. I shared that all professions are part science & part art…. AND clearly he had the art. We also shared our definition of "professional" - meaning anytime we are paid for our work.
20 minutes later – AIM Leadership owned 34 new images. AND Jon owned a new identity… he was a Professional Photographer.
So – what things are you hoping for…. in the future…. that might already be yours?
The Quad Bottom Line! Within the last 10 yrs, it has become vogue for companies to focus on the triple bottomline. Measuring their success by looking at both bottomline profits and their impact on people and the environment. Profits, People, and Planet.
At AIM Leadership - we place a huge premium on PLEASURE. Who doesn't like to have fun? Who says we can't have fun AND still be productive? Research increasingly shows that when people enjoy what they do - they are far more engaged, far more innovative, far more productive. AND there are even more benefits to measuring PLEASURE.
It decreases:
workplace stress,
absenteeism,
health costs,
employee turnover... and much more.
Take a moment - when did you have the most fun at work? What sets you up to be your best self at work? How can you create more pleasure at work?
P.S. - I spent last week at Zappos.com - a Company who has mastered the QUAD bottomline. Check out
For most of you, an 8 hour work day is nothing. Many of you spend 50-60 hours or more working, interacting with colleagues, clients and associates. In fact, if you are working anything more than 40 hours, then your desk gets more action than the person who sleeps next to you!
The average American sleeps a little over 8 hours/day (chart from Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/sleep.htm)
Take a moment and reflect on your work week. Where do you spend most of your time?
AIM for a great night's sleep, Camille
Who did you sleep with last night?
Getting intimate with your desk…
Take a moment and reflect on your work week. Where do you spend most of your time?
The average American sleeps a little over 8 hours/day (chart from Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/sleep.htm)
For most of you, an 8 hour work day is nothing. Many of you spend 50-60 hours or more working, interacting with colleagues, clients and associates. In fact, if you are working anything more than 40 hours, then your desk gets more action than the person who sleeps next to you!
People buy personalities. Think of the people you follow in the media - who are you drawn to? What makes you want to know more? Notice their quirks - how do these individuals leverage their "uniqueness"? I recently reached out to a professor from my grad school days. Here was his response...
Dear Correspondent:
I'm sorry for the use of this automatic form letter, but I have a book and a baby due by the end of the year, and the latter is far more certain to arrive than the former. My only hope for matching my wife's productivity is to cut myself off from everything, including all additional reading, writing, travel, daydreaming, and personal hygiene. I promise I will read your email, but I cannot respond to each email individually during this period. I expect to emerge from hibernation in the summer of 2010.
with best wishes, Jon Haidt
Funny? Genuine? Quirky? YES! And - is it any surprise that he has been so prolific in his writing, so recognized with his contributions, and so successful in both talking about happiness AND living it? Zappos loves him... you should too!
People often ask “How do I become a better leader?” The answer: Ask questions.
Eating dinner one night in 
What is the next "Triple Bottom Line"?
For most of you, an 8 hour work day is nothing. Many of you spend 50-60 hours or more working, interacting with colleagues, clients and associates. In fact, if you are working anything more than 40 hours, then your desk gets more action than the person who sleeps next to you!
People buy personalities. Think of the people you follow in the media - who are you drawn to? What makes you want to know more? Notice their quirks - how do these individuals leverage their "uniqueness"?
