Last week the subject was gratitude ~ taking time to reflect on our lives and our work and feeling grateful. There’s a significant secondary gain from practicing gratitude; it improves our ability to see opportunities. By focusing on what’s good and valuable in our lives and at work, we strengthen our “opportunity recognition” capabilities. Pessimists and cynics often miss opportunities because their focus is elsewhere.

Food for Thought ~

Most good leaders are optimistic and consciously grateful. Recently, I was with a client who had just successfully moved her large organization into beautiful new offices. As she took a rare quiet moment to gaze at the vista from her window, she expressed gratitude for all the factors that had come together to make the move possible. This is a person who is an expert at opportunity recognition. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

Question of the day ~

How optimistic are you? Do you easily see opportunities? Do you need to strengthen your gratitude habit?

Last week the subject was gratitude ~ taking time to reflect on our lives and our work and feeling grateful. There’s a significant secondary gain from practicing gratitude; it improves our ability to see opportunities. By focusing on what’s good and valuable in our lives and at work, we strengthen our “opportunity recognition” capabilities. Pessimists and cynics often miss opportunities because their focus is elsewhere.

Food for Thought ~

Most good leaders are optimistic and consciously grateful. Recently, I was with a client who had just successfully moved her large organization into beautiful new offices. As she took a rare quiet moment to gaze at the vista from her window, she expressed gratitude for all the factors that had come together to make the move possible. This is a person who is an expert at opportunity recognition. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

Question of the day ~

How optimistic are you? Do you easily see opportunities? Do you need to strengthen your gratitude habit?

One of the defining characteristics of good leaders is their predilection to be proactive. Being proactive means taking responsibility for looking forward to see what may need attention even though “the signals may be weak” at present. Over time, experienced leaders learn to read the weak signals and decipher their meaning. This is an extremely useful skill. By forecasting into the future, and then returning to the present, a leader can guide his or her organization in developing appropriate strategic responses and initiatives.

Food for Thought ~

As a leader, it’s critical to have the courage and clarity to look ahead and see what might be developing on the horizon, then take action accordingly. In other words, don’t let the press of immediacy obscure the importance of looking forward. Don’t wait for some unspecified “tomorrow.”

Question of the day ~

What future scenario forecasting have you done lately? What strategic decisions need to be made in order to move your company in the directions you desire and/or to avoid the circumstances you don’t desire?

Last week’s story about my completely unexpected mule ride on a flooded hiking trail was rich with lessons for me – the main one being the gift of the unanticipated solution to a dilemma. This happens in the workplace as well. I have learned to be open to the possibility of a solution “appearing” out of a sea of uncertainties. If we are rigorous and honest in gathering information, considering varying perspectives, and exploring creative alternatives with an open mind, we can often find a solution where we least expect it.

Food for Thought ~

Much of leadership is about leading decision-making processes for a group or organization. This requires having the wisdom, skill and self-discipline to conduct the decision-making process with integrity. I often say, “If the process has integrity, so will the results.” I have seen time and again, an unexpected, yet elegant solution “bubble up” from a healthy decision-making process.

Question of the day ~

Have you evaluated your decision-making processes lately? Do they nurture the conditions that encourage creative, effective solutions to your problems and dilemmas?

This is a true story. Regular readers may recall that in June I first wrote about encountering a swampy area on my favorite hiking trail in a nearby park. Recently, after the first heavy rains, many parts of the trail were flooded and impassable. A horse and rider went by and then I realized it was actually a fine-looking mule, not a horse. Having been born in Missouri and having “mules in my family” with an uncle that drove a team of Missouri mules in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena for many years, I was intrigued. After a congenial conversation, I was offered a ride on the gentle mule, Precious Peanut Pushkin. Of course I happily accepted, and subsequently enjoyed a marvelous trail ride through the flooded areas, through “the swamp,” and back to dry trail. I felt like the Queen of the Park that day ~ marveling in the gift of a completely unexpected and delightful experience.

Food for Thought ~

I was struck by this elegant and unpredictable solution to my flooded trail dilemma. What a reminder about being open to new possibilities! (BTW, the owner, Louisa, is an acupuncturist who has recently relocated to Sonoma County. In addition to having a new friend, I am advising Louisa on marketing as she establishes her business here.)

Question of the day ~

What is your “takeaway” from this story? What was meaningful and noteworthy to you? How might you apply this to your life/work?