As a leader, you must always ask yourself if you are a person of action or reaction. We can define action as an act of the will, something done or performed, or the accomplishment of a task. A reaction is defined as the way someone acts or feels in response to something that happens or is said. It is a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus.
We all understand that a reaction is what occurs following an action. The action comes first. The reaction is second. Throughout our days, we react to other's words and actions, and even their attitudes, with our responses being all the way from silent thoughts to physical events. Our professional lives are filled with constant actions of our own and reactions to those around us.
In various areas of life -- work, family, school, friends -- we must evaluate whether our tendency in relationships is to initiate action or respond in reaction. As with so many other a
How do you live your life? Are you driven by impulse or intention? Impulses are reactive. Intentions are proactive. Impulse is an immediate response. Intention is a calculated response. We tend to lean towards one or the other. There's an ancient proverb, "as go the hours of our days, so goes our life." So how do you change from an impulsive driven life to an intentional one?
Take a moment and ask yourself the following questions. Is my day-to-day life driven primarily by impulse or intention? By whim or wisdom? By want or need? Do my thoughts tend to be impulsive or intentional? Are my decisions typically impulsive or intentional?
If you want to change your life from impulse to intention focus on these five things:
- Slow Down: A busy, fast-paced, and chaotic lifestyle creates impulsive decisions because there is typically little to no time left to be reflective and intentional. **When you move too quickly, you m
The fastest way to kill something special is to compare it to something else. When leaders regularly compare themselves to others, they struggle in their leadership. Every leader is designed to fulfill a certain calling. You have to stay in your lane. You're not called to run someone else's race. Run the race that is set before you. Do what you can with the talents and gifts that you possess.
In graduate school, I had the privilege of working with many talented colleagues. It was evitable that there would be some comparing going on between all of us. We were all the top performers at our undergraduate institutions. We had risen in the ranks at our respective colleges and were accepted into one of the top industrial-organizational psychology programs in the country. What I learned really quickly is that comparing yourself to others can have detrimental effects on your performance and emotional well-being. Every individu
Our words matter. What you say to your people has an impact on their world. Words can build people up or tear them down. Words can demonstrate recognition, insight, and wisdom. Leaders need to make sure they communicate positive, uplifting words to their people on a consistent basis. When they do this, they unlock the potential of their employees.
The words you speak to yourself are just as important as the words you speak to others. If you wake up and your immediate thought is, "today, I will see the good in everything." Say it out loud and those words becomes an affirmation. The tone for your day has been set. At the same time, if you get up and think, "today is going to be miserable," those thoughts can come out as negative words without you even knowing it.
In most of my coaching work with clients, I make it a priority to use words to encourage and support their development. Sure, there are times when my clients ne
We expected a 'normal' spring season. Winter was nearly over, then COVID-19 hit. It took us all by surprise. Right now, we are all working from home. Many of us have had to shift the way we do things. For some, this has been a challenge. For others, we have had to make sacrifices. So, how do we find joy during this time? To me, it's all about perspective. The ability to look at a situation from a different vantage point. The ability to hit the pause button and take stock of what matters most. The ability to refocus our attention and efforts on the most critical priorities.
As the head of my household and the Managing Director of a leadership advisory consulting firm, I'm required to be a leader. Sure, I support the growth and development of my clients. My job is to serve as their trusted advisor and help them maximize their full potential. But, how have I coped with the crisis personally? It would be a lying to say this pandem