Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D. author of The Courageous Life, is an organizational consultant with a special interest in coaching courageous and effective leaders.
Posted on January 24, 2011 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
As a leader, do you display confidence, even when you are not sure of the outcome? Do you inspire your team to follow - even when the odds may be against you?
That’s exactly how Winston Churchill acted when England was faced with the inevitable invasion from Nazi Germany. England was to stand alone in Europe against Hitler’s forces, for France had been defeated and the United States was not yet involved in the war. It was a perilous situation to say the least. Instead of fighting, some of his countrymen wanted to negotiate with the monstrous Hitler - instead of conceding all out war.
Rather, Churchill took the plunge, despite the odds against victory - he gave his historic speech "We will fight on the beaches." In his speech, the first thing he does is express confidence in eventual victory:
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny - if necessary for years - if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to do.
In another part of the speech Churchill adds these famous lines:
we shall fight with growing confidence, and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be!
I believe that deep inside, Churchill must have felt some doubt about England's ability to fight such a formidable enemy. Regardless, he demonstrated extraordinary leadership - with powerful speeches, strategies and a continually confident demeanor. You know how the story ends…
* Do you have the courage to act confidently, even when you face a challenge that is against the odds?
Posted on January 19, 2011 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
The idea that you can catapult yourself toward success is a myth - the "lone-star myth." The truth is, in the absence of talented friends and colleagues, you will never excel in your job, or reach your full potential.
** High-quality colleagues provide at least 4 important aids for your success:
1) They Help You Create Knowledge: In today's complex world, one can not master all the levels of expertise needed to consistently excel. That's why we need colleagues and friends, who have expertise in various fields, to help provide reliable sources of new information.
2) They Providing Accurate Feedback: Another advantage of high-quality colleagues is they can serve as our most astute and valuable sounding boards and critics.
3) They Can Help Deliver Your Products/Services: In many cases, we rely on others to position and deliver our products or services to clients. High-quality individuals can help secure customers - and provide valuable market intelligence that can improve your effectiveness.
4) They Can Enhance Your Reputation: Finally, high-performing colleagues can help strengthen your own reputation - simply because of your association with them. This is referred to as the "halo effect." This halo effect can benefit you by creating greater access to new opportunities and relationships.
* Surround yourself with quality individuals and win!
Posted on December 28, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
It's not uncommon to be hurt, or rubbed the wrong way by a leader you serve under. Leaders are not perfect - and how you handle a hurtful situation will speak volumes about your character. When a leader has done something that you believe is wrong, you have three options:
Remain Silent
Complain to others
Talk to your leader about it
- Lets look at these options:
OPTION #1 REMAIN SILENT- While this may seem honorable, this option is dangerous. This approach actually undermines true autenticity - and can cause you to develop a spirit of self-righteous pride (and allow resentment to build in your heart.) In addition, if a leader's actions are truly wrong, not addressing the issue allows that blind spot to persist in their "leadership character." In the long run, remaining silent only hurts you and the leader. Solomon writes in Proverbs 10:18“He who conceals hatred is a liar.” Be careful - your silence may not be as honorable as you think.
OPTION #2 COMPLAIN – For many, this is the easist option to choose when wronged. However, complaining to others only spreads discontent and division. Even the most subtly expressed complaints can undermine the authority of your leader - and weaken the unity of the tream. In reality, when you speak negatively about others, it diminishes peoples confidence in your character... for what are you saying about them... Proverbs 16:27-28 “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and gossip separates close friends.”
OPTION #3 TALK TO THEM- This is the hardest of the three options, thus is usually avoided. Though least chosen, it is the best optinon because this leads toward true reconciliation and restoration. When an issue is addressed with a gentle and humble spirit, most often a healthy and productive discussion will result. Proverbs 27:6“faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
* Are you hurt? Offended? What are you going to do about it?
Posted on January 29, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
“Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to develop the talent to the uncomfortable place it leads.” Abraham Lincoln
The pathway to success can be complicated - full of turns, difficulties and distractions that can divert us from our goal and dreams. Below a one formula for “Success in Life” that shows the many factors that contribute to one's ongoing success.
S = (GMEDS – I) * T(HC)
S is “Success in Life” – (which includes inner Peace, Joy, and Living out one’s purpose)
G is “God” – All we have comes from Him.
M is “Our Mental Map” – includes three constructs: Core Beliefs, Attitude, and Knowledge – Our knowledge, attitude and core beliefs drive our behaviors; our behaviors then drive our results; and sustained results determine our lifestyle.
E is “Energy” – Fatigue makes cowards of us all. Managing one’s energy is more important than managing our time.
D is “Definiteness of Purpose” – Where we have clearly defined goals, and a plan to attain them.
S is “Skill” – We develop skills. Talent is God given.
I is “Interference” – This includes negative self talk, fear, lack of trust, poor work ethic…
T is “Time” – We are each given 8760 hours each year. We need to leverage these hours wisely.
H is “Daily Habits” or Rituals – Developing patterns of constructive daily habits will directly determine the level of success we eventually achieve and sustain.
C is “Coachability” – No one reaches high levels of success alone. We all need various “coaches” to help us get there, and to be receptive to their counsel and feedback.
** Sustained success is not easy – but it is definitely attainable if a person remains focused and committed to the right path.
(Adapted from a formula provided by John Wright - a successful performance coach and business man)
Posted on January 15, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
I saw the documentary about “Young@Heart” on PBS the other night. I found it quite inspiring.
Young@Heart Chorus is a fluctuating group of about two dozen singers in Northhampton MA, whose average age is 80.
The documentary concentrates on the rigorous preparation for a 2006 concert at the Academy Theater in Northampton. Guided by the chorus’s demanding longtime director, Bob Cilman - instead of comfortable walks around the block, rehearsals (three a week) are demanding hikes over hilly terrain - yet the challenge only makes the “summit” that more exciting.
* The first video clip is a song sang during their performance at the theater. The second clip is an earlier performance for inmates. Enjoy.
Posted on October 03, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
“He who has a WHY to live for can bear with almost any HOW.” – Nietzsche
Life does not always go the way we plan – It is not always a bed of roses, for along the way, the thorns that co-exist with those roses will find ways to let you know they are still there.
When some people enter into a time of sorrow, suffering, or difficulty, they can become lost. A painful experience can cause a person to question the meaning of it all… But we must never forget that an individual can find true purpose and meaning – even in the face of severe and difficult situations.
Holocaust survivor and psychologist Viktor Frankl tells this story
:
“Once, an elderly physician came to talk to me because of his severe depression. He just could not overcome the loss of his wife who had died two years before, and whom he had loved above all else.
Now, how could I help him? What should I tell him?
Well, I refrained from telling him anything, but instead confronted him with the question, ‘What would have happened, Doctor, if you had died first, and your wife would have had to survive you?’
‘Oh,’ he said, ‘for her this would have been terrible; how she would have suffered!’ Whereupon I replied, ‘You see, Doctor, such a suffering has been spared her, and it was you who have spared her of this suffering – to be sure – even at the price that you now have to survive and mourn her instead.’
The Doctor said no words, but shook my hand and calmly left my office. In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning – such as the meaning of a loving sacrifice.”
In that moment I succeeded in changing his attitude toward his unalterable fate… helping him to see a meaning in his suffering.”
** When we are not able to change a situation we face – we are then challenged to change ourselves. I am a firm believer the difficult times can always be redeemed in ways that (though difficult) can provide sincere meaning, purpose, and service to others.
What difficultly in your life needs to redeemed by discovering it’s meaning and purpose?
