The power of gratitude
Leaders*, Well, it’s the time of the year again to reflect on what we have and appreciate. What have you been particularly grateful for? Who deserves a heartfelt gesture of gratitude? Have you seen everyone and all contributions on your team? When it comes to business, it is easy to fall into the trap of not seeing people whom we work with. Been there, done that. Not good. What I learned as relates to relationships at work and in life is that nothing (absolutely nothing) can be taken for granted. And recognizing team members actually impacts business results. Gratitude helps you see the positive things in life, and it is the engine of asset-based thinking (as opposed to deficit-based thinking). Deficit thinking creates a mentality of fear, of failure of never being able to rise above the situation. It creates a culture where change takes an enormous amount of effort [...]
Aha, Woohoo and Wow: Design Thinking
Leaders, How do you promote innovation and creativity? Do you know what your customers or users really want? Are you allowed to experiment and possibly fail? Which product designs do you love? As a non-technical person, I am wowed by the aesthetics and functionality of Apple products. I also love the experience of getting a good Starbucks coffee, and I admire companies like AirBnB, 3M and Pepsi who prioritize design. Great design has that “wow”-factor that makes products and services more desirable and more appealing to users. Great design has become a key differentiator that drives organizations to outperform the market. “We have to be able to adapt to new situations. It’s another form of the definition of intelligent behavior.” Hasso Plattner, German entrepreneur and philanthropist (*1944) IDEO defines design thinking as “a process for creative problem solving that transforms organizations and inspires innovation.”. Design thinking attempts to produce the [...]
Winning social connections
Leaders*, Did you know that human beings are wired to connect? Simply put, it’s the way our brains work. Our need to connect is as fundamental as our need for food and water. In fact, our well-being depends on our connection with others. Sometimes, we don’t realize we are craving a deeper connection until we find it. What can make connecting with others challenging? Well, according to Brené Brown it is basically our fears of getting hurt, disconnection, criticism, failure, conflict, not measuring up etc. that cuts ourselves off from real connection with real humans. What can leaders do to create more intimacy within their teams, communities or families? Let’s dissect the anatomy of relationships and explore possibilities. We can have relationships with ourselves, other people, situation or circumstance, and time. Relationship with Self: Nurturing a kind and loving relationship with ourselves means being connected to our souls and purpose [...]
Coaching is like dancing
Leaders*, Have you ever been accused of being top-heavy, data-driven or too analytical? Have you ever ruminated to the extent that you couldn’t fall asleep? How often have you been involved in arguments that basically were about being right or wrong? Have you dreamed about something for a long time and never acted on it? Did you find yourself numbing your senses by drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, watching too much TV or just not focusing on the right priorities? If one or all of the above is true for you, it is high time to get out of your head! “If you get in your head, you’re dead.” Tony Robbins (*1960), American motivational speaker When our energy is low, we have a tendency to move into our fearful head. To keep our energy high, we need to get into our hearts and passion instead, and do what it [...]
Coaching is the language of innovation
Leaders, We live in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) in times of unheard-of turbulence. It is an era of ever-increasing competition and technology that changes at speeds unimaginable a few years ago. Surviving and thriving in this environment requires a unique approach to accelerating innovation, catalyzing discovery, and tapping emerging opportunities. Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”. Leaders need to develop the capacity to navigate these waters with new thinking, skill, talent and character to create new processes, products, and services that have value for their customers. Today, innovation is not a choice – it’s a must for every organization! Source: MRVULCANO Transforming an organization’s culture into an environment that welcomes innovation requires more than just generating a slew of creative ideas. It’s about following-through on the good ideas, which calls for a very different [...]
FeMale Leadership is Beautiful
Leaders, In preparation for the “Inspired Women Development Series” that I will be launching together with LFM Coaching, Buenos Aires/Argentina, I have asked a few colleagues and experts in the field of leadership development and diversity & inclusion about their views on characteristics of male and female leadership and the most effective approach to developing women leaders. Here is what they came up with: 1. From your experience, what are the key differentiators in the male/female approach to leadership in general? Women tend to be more approachable on a personal level; they provide others with a sense of being seen and being relevant. The female communication style seems more diplomatic and sensitive, whereas men tend to communicate more directly and in a matter-of-fact fashion. Followers feel validated and motivated to do even more when those female traits are exhibited well. When something is not working, women tend to step up [...]