Category: Leadership Insights

How big is your universe?

From the work of physicists, especially the brilliant Stephen Hawking we know that the universe is pretty big – perhaps about 46 billion light years from earth to the edge.  For me when I think about this stuff, my mind can’t quite get around it. That could be because perhaps the only thing I have in common with Hawkings is his name and not his mind!

But for me it does put many things into perspective.  How big is your universe?Business can be tough, competitive and sometimes a grind.  It’s easy in tough times to baton down the hatches, to guard the gates and see every gain by another as a loss for you.  But is this right?  As leaders, do we really believe the universe is limited?  I’m a firm believer in abundance in all things.  There’s enough out there that my success doesn’t mean someone else’s loss and visa versa.

If all the people in my line of work do well, then we all do.  It’s good for us all. Some might say it’s naive, that the competition will take advantage of me.  They could be right, but they can’t take away your values and the universe you exist in.  And others can see that.

So I reckon that with 46 billion light years in one direction, that there’s enough for all of us, and that success for one will never preclude success for another.


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No circulars please, we’re special in here!

Although the metal sign on my letterbox requests that no circulars be placed inside, the Auckland City deliverer can be guaranteed to still distribute their weekly newsletter. Usually, as I put out the rubbish and recycling bin on Sunday evening there is a quick transfer from letterbox to bin and I give it no more thought.

For some reason this week I took the newsletter inside and read about a new development at a park that that the city had acquired and was to develop further –  Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough.

Earlier this afternoon I asked my (just turned) 17 year old son Tim if he would like to go for a walk in the Domain.  We were about to head off when my neighbour Rhonda greeted us and suggested we visit that new park in Hillsborough. Good idea we agreed and after Rhonda helpfully found the address for us we headed there.  It turns out it’s less than 5 minutes drive from home.

The park is huge, tucked away from the main road, but with a The residue of Guy Fawkes nightsweeping landscape of lawn and enormous rubber trees. Our arrival in the carpark took the number of cars from 2 to 3.  A rubbish bin jammed full of the residue of a wild Guy Fawkes night greeted us.

On the leadership work we do we sometimes use photographs as prompts to talk about ourselves and where we are at. This seemed like a great place to take some more photographs and I did, explaining to Tim what I might use the photographs for.

Tim’s a young 17 year old – often mistaken for much younger and still loves family time and adventure with Dad. I asked Tim if we were to take a photo of anything in the park to describe his life and where he was at, what would he choose.

“Well I think I would be that rather scrawny little tree up by the really big trees” he said after some thought.  “Tell me more” I encouraged. “I am small, but I’m getting bigger and I will grow up into a big tree, but right now I’m small”.  “And what about the big trees, what do they mean for you?” I enquired, “they protect me and look after me while I’m still growing”.

Monte Cecilia Park, Hillsborough, AucklandWhoever you ask this of, their imagery will be special, and will be different – sitting back and taking the time to hear where others are at, encouraging them to use their imagery can be the most special thing  – you might be surprised how much others need you.

Every leadership story is unique. Every person’s story is unique. Take the time to find it and you might just find more than you could ever hope for.

No Circulars Please! We’re special in here!


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What should you ask your leadership development centre?

I’m in the leadership development business and clients sometimes ask me “so what’s different about your offering?”, or “what can you tell us about what you do and how?”.   They are really good questions and so I thought I would list the things I would like to ask if I were looking for some development work – whether that be a course, programme, workshop or other engagement.

AUT Centre for Innovative Leadership (CIL) is setting new standards in transparency and credibility.   CIL aspires to be is authentic. Authentic in the way we conduct ourselves – we facilitate in our own way; we have real and transparent qualifications and accreditations from reputable institutions; we have and embrace diversity in all its forms; we are honest about where we come from – no exaggeration of CVs allowed around here!; we really care about leadership and people; and we want the best for you – which might not be us, that’s ok.  So when you’re assessing who to use:

1.  Who’s behind this business?  A reputable organisation or someone out for the next dollar?

2. Can I talk to some of the folk who might be doing the work?  Are they engaged with the process?

3. Who can vouch that your centre lives the values you espouse? Give me someone who used to work here to talk to please?

4. What tools and instruments do you use? Are they up-to-date?  Will you embrace the tools we have in our organisation and be prepared to use them? Will you have people who can do that?

5. Are all the people who interpret the tools and 360 feedback actually qualified? Or is it just nominated people or the centre?

6. What are the qualifications of the people involved? Are they real?

7. Do you pile in content?  Or is your style experiential?

8. What clients can I talk to about your offerings?  I’d really like a chat because, you know, sometimes you can learn a lot that you can’t read.

There’s a start.  It’s not everything, but I reckon that if you can get good answers to all of the above you’re in a good place.  Then take a close look at the person who’s running the show. Does s/he have the traits you are looking for? If not, would you really be in the right place?  Of are you in the school of theory? Some people say that leadership starts at the top, so check out the top.  Does it fit with you?

Good luck!

Stephen

ps I guess you won’t be surprised to hear me say I think we could give some pretty robust answers to these questions when you’re ready.  The only thing we can’t help you with is talking to someone who has left us!


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Are you cutting corners to save time?

During an afternoon coffee with a friend today we talked about a significant event that had impacted on both of us over a period of time.  My friend had initially been somewhat on the peripheral of what was going on and I had assumed that the details of the events were not necessarily of great importance to him.

How wrong I was.

During our discussion it became apparent that what I had seen as unnecessary explanation or detail was in fact rightly perceived as non-disclosure.  My friend was not judgemental in this regard but was honest in seeking to understand why it appeared that I had made selected and timely disclosures of information as it suited me.

I believed I was simply saving time.  I know that I was also avoiding potentially difficult conversations which I had not been ready for.  I was cutting corners.  Not only was that wrong,  I shouldn’t have even been on the road.  I wasn’t ready.

Not everyone needs every detail.  But when you are dealing with your trust bank, there really is no short cut.

Don’t get on the road, if you’re thinking of taking short cuts! People will notice. I was fortunate this time to have a friend who believed in me enough to tell me.


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