Monthly Archives: January 2011

In Memorium: Leadership & Depression

The scope of a leader’s role can be daunting, from inspirational visionary to task master, and everything in between. (This is just one reason why I say leadership is not for the faint of heart.) Most leaders at some point in their careers find themselves at the helm when a tragedy takes place. A particularly difficult situation to navigate is the loss of a team member/employee to suicide. A basic understanding of mental health issues and depression is fundamental, as is thought and preparation for the leadership that will be needed to help people through the emotional aftershocks of a tragedy within the work community.

Food for Thought ~

If you yourself are experiencing symptoms of depression, please reach out. There is help available. If someone in your organization is at risk, do what you can that’s appropriate to the situation to offer support and assistance. You never know when it might make all the difference. Here’s a website that’s a good starting point for information.

Question of the day ~

As a leader, have you educated yourself about mental health issues and how to recognize potentially serious situations? Do you have a “preparedness plan” for how to handle a mental health crisis situation?

In Memorium
Peter J. Kingston
6/22/1954 ~ 1/18/2011

In Memorium: Leadership & Depression

The scope of a leader’s role can be daunting, from inspirational visionary to task master, and everything in between. (This is just one reason why I say leadership is not for the faint of heart.) Most leaders at some point in their careers find themselves at the helm when a tragedy takes place. A particularly difficult situation to navigate is the loss of a team member/employee to suicide. A basic understanding of mental health issues and depression is fundamental, as is thought and preparation for the leadership that will be needed to help people through the emotional aftershocks of a tragedy within the work community.

Food for Thought ~

If you yourself are experiencing symptoms of depression, please reach out. There is help available. If someone in your organization is at risk, do what you can that’s appropriate to the situation to offer support and assistance. You never know when it might make all the difference. Here’s a website that’s a good starting point for information.

Question of the day ~

As a leader, have you educated yourself about mental health issues and how to recognize potentially serious situations? Do you have a “preparedness plan” for how to handle a mental health crisis situation?

In Memorium
Peter J. Kingston
6/22/1954 ~ 1/18/2011

Improve your Focus

Last week’s message encouraged you to set goals for yourself and your company. Setting goals helps us focus on what’s important. To focus means to select from a field of options, to prioritize. When we focus on a few meaningful goals, our energies and resources are concentrated and the likelihood of getting the results we want is multiplied.

Food for Thought ~

We may find it difficult to focus for several reasons. First, we don’t slow down, take time to reflect, and think through our choices. Second, we are fuzzy about our values or conflicted about our priorities. And third, we are concerned about “leaving something out” or think we can “do it all.” Ironically, we get more of what we want when we focus.

Question of the day ~

Do your goals excite and inspire you? Are you clear on your values and priorities? What are you focusing on this week, this month, this year?

Opportune Times

This is an opportune time to set your intentions and goals for the coming year. Give yourself and your company the advantage of thinking about what’s important to you and what you can do to move toward your desired future. People and organizations that set goals are more likely to achieve what they want. It’s that simple.

Food for Thought ~

The time that it takes to reflect on your priorities and then articulate a set of goals is a fraction of the time that can be lost throughout the year from a lack of focus. If you are part of an organization, this is multiplied exponentially, and the risk of wasted effort and unproductive use of resources becomes significant.

Question of the day ~

Have you made time to set goals for the coming year, both personally and for your organization?

Welcoming the Unknown Future

“Now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”
Rainer Marie Rilke, German author and poet

Rilke reminds us that welcoming the unknown future can be an act of confidence and trust. The more we can embrace what is yet to be, even though it is unseen, the greater our capacity to revel in the unfolding of our lives. Going a step further, I believe that we can take an active stance in shaping the life we want for ourselves and our organizations. In effect, we can participate in creating our future. Helping companies create more of what they want has always been the essence of my business.

Food for Thought ~

One of the attributes of a good leader is confidence in his or her organization’s ability to effectively meet the challenges and opportunities ahead, both known and unknown, while remembering that credibility as a leader comes from honesty and not false bravado.

Question of the day ~

If you are a leader, what attitudes and behaviors are you demonstrating as you begin the new year? Do you inspire confidence and optimism about your company’s future?

This new year’s edition marks the beginning of my second year writing these Minutes. Welcome back, faithful readers! Warm greetings, new subscribers! May your coming year be ripe with possibilities and promise.