Monthly Archives: March 2013

#169 – Spring Pot-Pourri

Here’s a small collection of interesting bits, related to last week’s post that introduced my new article in the NorthBay Business Journal, “The Four Cornerstones of Success,” which will be published in a four part series over the next few months. The first article is about the first cornerstone: Purpose. (To read the article, please click here.) As always, I received some very thoughtful replies from my readers. Here are two of them:

Food for Thought ~

“Of the Four Cornerstones, I think purpose is the most important, because purpose guides the leadership and when everyone is aligned on purpose, leadership can come from multiple sources. Also, whenever everyone is truly
aligned, what can be accomplished is phenomenal.”
What a great way of looking at it, and true, indeed. My reader’s comment illustrates the power of shared leadership, prefaced by the essential requirement for consensus and a shared commitment to purpose. Another reader used the article to analyze his business and drew this conclusion: “I have loads of three of the Cornerstones: #1, #3, and #4, but I am weak on #2: Strategies. Magical thinking leads me to believe that if you make it good enough they will buy it, but finding “them” is first and foremost! So I am trying to get #2 equal to the others. Thank you Mary!”

Question for the day ~

How much clarity and consensus on purpose is there within your organization?

In Closing ~

I realize now that a lot of people may have been on vacation last week, or otherwise engaged, and thus may have missed the newest edition of my QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER. If so, here’s a quick link to my newsletter.
I hope you enjoy it!

Mary

#168 The Four Cornerstones for Business Success

After twenty five years of working intimately with hundreds of organizations, I decided to take stock of what I had learned. I came up with a simple concept that pulled together the factors that seemed to make a crucial difference. I called it the “Four Cornerstones for Business Success.” These key principles are universal, relevant to any type or size of organization. I published it originally as a whitepaper, and I share it with you now as it begins a four part series of articles in the North Bay Business Journal this week.

Food for Thought ~

Think now, for just a moment, about the building you’re in as you read this. Most buildings have four corners for the main structure. Additional wings may be attached, but most likely the primary building foundation has four corners to provide it with structural stability. In stone buildings, these four key positions are called cornerstones. This metaphor works very well as a model for business. Just as a building needs a solid foundation, so does a business. The four cornerstones for business success are: 1. Purpose 2. Strategies 3. Skills and 4. Leadership. For optimal performance, all four cornerstones must be of roughly equivalent strength. However, leadership is “equal above all others.” Indeed, if I had to select one as the most crucial cornerstone over time, it would be leadership. But an interesting corollary is that the harmony and interdependence of the four cornerstones actually create the strongest position. The balance of the four elements, all equally strong, is the best foundation for optimal performance. To read more, click here.

Question for the day ~

What do you consider to be the foundation for your success?

In Closing ~

Please be on the lookout tomorrow for the newest edition of my NEWS FROM MARY QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER. I hope you enjoy it!

Kind regards,

Mary

#167- Tips for Leaders as Communicators

Being a great communicator is right at the top of the leader’s list of roles. Some historic past masters include Steve Jobs, JFK, and of course, the great Winston Churchill. They had very different styles, but one thing they had in common was their appreciation for the importance of their role as communicator and their willingness to spend the necessary time required in thought and preparation for speaking occasions. Jobs’ preparation is legendary, and there are some excellent books, articles, and videos on his presentation methods.

Food for Thought ~

Leaders need to understand that every time they speak to constituents, from employees to customers to the general public – all of their myriad audiences, whether formally or informally, it is their responsibility to have a meaningful message to convey. Here’s an abbreviated version of one of my methods for coaching leaders on developing their message. To begin: think in two directions. First, think Outside – In. Ask yourself what’s going on in your organization, community, industry, the world, that needs to be acknowledged in your comments? What needs to be addressed or illuminated? Second, think Inside – Out. What’s in your heart or on your mind that you need to say to this audience at this point in time? What do they need to hear from you? Would it be important to articulate the organization’s values, mission, or vision? Third, integrate the themes you have identified. Always consider timing and context. Speak simply, from a place of personal authenticity, with clear and concise language. Communicating effectively is one of the greatest opportunities you have to powerfully demonstrate your role as a leader.
“Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style.”
Matthew Arnold, English Poet and Essayist

Question for the day ~

Effective public speaking = having something to say and saying it clearly. Have you taken the time to develop your public speaking skills? How might you improve your effectiveness as a communicator?

In Closing ~

If public speaking is not one of your strengths, please get some assistance. No leader can afford to be less than successful in this crucial role.
Kind regards,

Mary

#166 – Courageous Leaders: True Stories

It’s always inspiring to witness real-life situations that dramatically illustrate the importance of positive leadership. Linda Sartor, of Santa Rosa, California, is an example of a courageous, values-driven leader. Linda has participated in numerous civilian peace missions to war torn countries, most recently in Afghanistan. Personally, she is self-effacing, even a bit shy, and soft-spoken. But her commitment to serving as an emissary for peace is iron-willed. And because of her deep convictions, she ventures into countries most of us will never visit. She overcomes her natural reticence and gives public presentations about her work, raising awareness about the lives of ordinary people in Afghanistan. She personifies leadership in action. Recently, Linda hosted a Skype call to her counterparts in Kabul, Afghanistan. I had the honor of leading our group here in the very moving experience of singing John Lennon’s beautiful song “Imagine” for her colleagues half-way around the world.

Food for Thought ~

Linda’s slide presentation about her trips to Afghanistan introduced me to the other heroes in this story – The Afghanistan Peace Volunteers, a small group of young men, many still teenagers, working quietly for peace in their country. Each of them has suffered great personal loss and hardship due to the war, yet they reach out to others in their community, searching for peaceful solutions to the complex social, cultural and political problems in their country. They frankly acknowledge that they don’t expect to see peace in their lifetimes, yet even so, they have the vision, courage and resolve to persevere.

Question for the day ~

In what ways do these examples of courageous leaders inspire you? What deep convictions do you have that help you persevere through difficulties? How might a very long-term vision change your perspective?

In Closing ~

My recent, and relevant, column in the North Bay Business Journal is about your values as a leader and your organization’s values. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, click here.

Mary