Leadership – Page 8 – Success Strategies

It’s not what you say, but how you say it. Just imagine hearing of the tragic passing of your loved one … by text message. The news in itself is devastating. But that is exactly what airline officials did. ABC news reported that It was communicated:

“Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia’s Prime Minister, we must now accept all evidence suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean,” the (text) message read.

It was reported that “Malaysia Airlines Families Fainted, cried and screamed over the news”. Would the result have been the same had the message been verbally communicated? Probably, but the leaders would have appeared a lot more considerate.

As the old adage suggests, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. In this age of digital communication, it is still necessary for leaders to understand the context of what is being said before selecting the mode of communication. Using text message to communicate tragic death announcement after a long period of waiting, anxiety and mental anguish can appear inconsiderate.

No doubt the leaders of the missing aircraft were themselves tired and anxious, and wanted to bring comfort and closure to tired, anxious and grieving relatives. Speed did the job (by text), but in this case speed was like putting a cold turkey into the microwave and pressing “a minute express cook”… it doesn’t work. Grieving family members want empathy. They want to know that in spite of it all leaders care and are doing their best.

Organizational leaders, let’s take this as a learning and practice effective communication. Select the right method because as the old adage says… it’s not what you say, but how you say it.

Now its your turn. Do you believe that the method of communication was appropriate? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU REALLY WANT

I snuck away at the start of this year to a Cool place in DC to finish my Doctoral studies, and am thrilled to say that by mid-year…I did it!! But nothing I did compared with the greatest challenge I embraced when I faced my fears and jumped 12,000 ft. from a small aircraft in a tandem skydive!!! Yikes!! View it here http://youtu.be/KbaFsgRZJC0. It was the most exhilarating experience! Amidst a feeling of fear, and the desire to accomplish a planned feat, I embraced the challenge. It affirmed to me that we can do great things when we put our minds to it. Even when we’re afraid, we can do it with God’s divine help. So, what’s holding you back from achieving your dreams, your goals, and your desires? Make a decision today. Do what’s laid on your heart. Put your plans in place. Don’t worry about the resources because once you put the ‘key in the ignition’ everything else will fall into place.

Here are a few simplified tips adapted from the tried and proven PDCA problem-solving approach to get you started.

Plan. Nothing happens without a plan. So take some time out and reflect on what your problems or procrastinations are and what you would like to achieve. The New Year is a good time to start.

Do. Think about ways to solve. What can you do to accomplish your goals and aspirations? “Do” here means ‘try” or “test”. Whatever you do, think about ways that you can use to get to your dreams, then select a path and start the ignition.

Check. At regular intervals, check to make sure your plan is working. Let’s say for example you had decided on a career change. What are the things you need to put in place to accomplish this change? If it is to get a better job, define what a ‘better job’ looks like. Do you have the necessary skills to accomplish this goal? If not, can you acquire it through training? Do you even like the job you’re looking at or are you considering it because it pays more? Whatever you do, make sure it’s realistic.

Act. Finally, select and implement your plan. Review and repeat the steps at intervals to make sure you’re on track.

So, make a decision today. Put your plans in place and Remember, you can do it if you really want!! Best wishes for the New Year, and beyond.

A FREED Nelson Mandela

A Hero. An Icon. A Shining Star has left his mark.

Extraordinary, inspiring, humble, courageous, determined, influential, a forceful presence, a true giant. These are just a few of the words used to describe Nelson Mandela by the likes of President Barack Obama, Prince William, Morgan Freeman, Idris Elba, and countless others.

“We have lost one of the greatest human beings to have walked this earth”, said Idris Elba after the VIP premier of the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”, attended by Prince William and Kate in London. The news shocked the VIP audience at the end of the premier.

Morgan Freeman, in his reflection asked how many of us would have survived prison yet after release accomplish what he did? How many of us could have sworn off vengeance and preached reconciliation? How many of us could have turned the final chapters of our own life into a new beginning for our nation’s people? Morgan freeman reflected that Mandela dedicated his life to freeing a nation and ended up freeing the world.

Indeed Nelson Mandela was a patriarch of persistence, humility, resilience and a supreme example of a leader extraordinaire. Madiba (as his friends called him), has gone to rest. He will forever remain in our hearts.

Leadership…Do You Have What it Takes?

Its simple. Leadership style reflects a characteristic mode of action or manner of acting. Consider the leadership style of Presidents Obama, Bush (both father & son… two very different styles), Oprah, Donald Trump, Mother Teresa and Dwayne Wade.

Now consider yours. What is your leadership style?